[EN] The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Thanks

Tour Down Under (19/1/2010-24/1/2010, ProTour)
So here's our first race proper, and boy is it a big way to start. We're up against riders like Cancellara, Petacchi, Bennati, Farrar, Kroon...quality, quality riders. We've brought along our five Aussies, plus David McCann and David Veilleux.
Rupert has set out the game plan for us: Hilton Clarke will target the sprints, along with Karl Menzies if the route proves too hard for Hilton. Rory Sutherland will be our GC guy, while the rest will be support for those 3, or trying to get into breakaways.
And that's where I come in. My job is to try and get one of our team into a break every stage.

Stage 1: Clare – Tanunda (140.6km)

First stage, and first try for the break went to David McCann, who joined 7 others for a break which didn't really get going, and was caught within 20km of the start line.
When they were caught, the pack eased up a lot, and I told somebody else to have a go over the radio. Up stepped Dean Windsor, who put down full gas, looked over his shoulder and found he was alone. Race radio quickly allowed me to go up to him, and I told him to just ride tempo, don't kill yourself.


Deano goes solo

He quickly snapped up the first set of mountain points, but the [ack brought him back in with 55km to go. That cued up an attack from Leif Hoste, who took the next set of mountain points, whilst Dean attacked from the bunch to take 3rd on the climb, dragging 2 others with him (Hinault (Ag2r) and Vigano (Sky)) to form a chase group after Leif Hoste.


Leif Hoste goes for a sneaky attack

However, the strength of the pack always meant such a break had no chance, and Leif Hoste was caught by the peloton just as he got the last mountain points, taking away the jersey from Dean Windsor, who'd already been caught and dropped.
So it became a sprint, and what a sprint it was! Coming into the last turn, Karl found himself in the second wheel behind Scott Davis of Astana, and went full gas from there...


Karl in a great position

But...


Petacchi came round him

Still, second place was a great result, holding off Bennati and Farrar is a great achievement, and a great start for the team. Just a shame Deano didn't get the climber's jersey, rolling in 6 minutes after the pack too – very demoralising, but hopefully he'll return positive tomorrow

Stage:
1 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini 3h28'09
2 Karl Menzies Caterpillar s.t.
3 Daniele Bennati Liquigas - Doimo s.t.
4 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Transitions s.t.
5 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.

36 David Veilleux Caterpillar s.t.
41 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.
45 David McCann Caterpillar s.t.
49 Rory Sutherland Caterpillar s.t.
99 Ben Day Caterpillar s.t.
139 Dean Windsor Caterpillar + 6'05

General Classification:
1 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini 3h27'59
2 Karl Menzies Caterpillar + 4
3 Daniele Bennati Liquigas - Doimo + 6
4 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team + 7
5 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi + 8

39 David Veilleux Caterpillar s.t.
44 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.
48 David McCann Caterpillar s.t.
52 Rory Sutherland Caterpillar s.t.
100 Ben Day Caterpillar s.t.
139 Dean Windsor Caterpillar + 6'15

Points:
1 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini 8
2 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 6
3 Karl Menzies Caterpillar 6

Climber:
1 Leif Hoste Omega Pharma - Lotto 32
2 Dean Windsor Caterpillar 24
3 Karsten Kroon BMC Racing Team 12

U25:
1 Greg Van Avermaet Omega Pharma - Lotto 3h28'09 + 1 (2)
2 Jan Bakelandts Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t. + 1 (3)
3 Jack Bobridge Garmin - Transitions s.t. + 1 (4)

Stage 2: Gawler – Hahndorf (165.6km)

I would be marshalling the break today again, with Deano hoping to pick up all 32 points on offer.
But we managed not to just slip Deano away – Ben managed to get into the 6 man break too, giving us strength in depth to get those KOM points.


Two is better than one

The only problem was, the first climb was 8.5km long with an average at 6.8%, and Dean was dropped easily. The plan changed then, and it was Ben who would try to grab as many points as possible, and with nobody else going for them, he was first at the top.

Climb one done. Would we make it to number two?

The rest of the stage was fairly pedestrian. The break stayed away just long enough to grab those mountain points, which put Ben level with Leif Hoste on points – he wouldn't get the jersey though, which was very frustrating, we'll have to try again tomorrow.


Ben gets the points, but it isn't enough

The finale was one for the real sprinter's, a long straight allowing them to get positioned, but the winner was still surprising: Murilo Fischer outsprinted Van Avaermet and Cancellara to take the stage and go level with Petacchi. Karl roled in a very good 8th, dropping to 4th in the GC.


Very close finish, but a Brazilian win!

Stage:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 4h30'06
2 Greg Van Avermaet Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
3 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
4 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini s.t.
5 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
8 Karl Menzies Caterpillar s.t.
33 Ben Day Caterpillar s.t.
46 Rory Sutherland Caterpillar s.t.
76 David McCann Caterpillar s.t.
115 David Veilleux Caterpillar +4'20
133 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.
150 Dean Windsor Caterpillar + 5'14

General Classification:
1 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini 7h58'05
2 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions s.t.
3 Lars Ytting Bak Team HTC - Columbia + 3
4 Karl Menzies Caterpillar + 4
5 Greg Van Avermaet Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
12 Ben Day Caterpillar + 9
42 Rory Sutherland Caterpillar +10
58 David McCann Caterpillar s.t.
105 David Veilleux Caterpillar +4'30
109 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.
144 Dean Windsor Caterpillar + 11'29

Points:
1 Lars Ytting Bak Team HTC - Columbia 14
2 Niki Terpstra Team Milram 10
3 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack 10

KOM:
1 Leif Hoste Omega Pharma - Lotto 0 32
2 Ben Day Caterpillar 32 32
3 Niki Terpstra Team Milram 24 24

U25:
1 Greg Van Avermaet Omega Pharma - Lotto 4h30'06 7h58'09 (1)
2 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t. + 6 (4)
3 Jan Bakelandts Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t. + 6 (3)

Beautiful bike and shirt
And the results are pretty good too

Thanks

Stage 3: Unley – Stirling (152.6km)

With 32 more points on offer today, my job would be to get Ben or Dean into that climber's jersey. But with the climbs quite late on, I decided to split the chances, sending Ben into the 12 nab break with Hilton Clarke as a helper.
And with no competition, and the break still ahead, Ben easily took the first set of points, but had to go full gas to hold off Maxim Iglinsky (Astana) for the second set. Still, 32 points equals a jersey with a big lead. Happy days!


Ben takes the first climb...


...and the second!

The sprint was another fast one, led out by Cancellara going into the last turn, with Karl Menzies on his wheel.


Karl gets a great position

Karl went full gas around him, went in front of him, but so did Murilo Fischer, who took back-to-back wins!


Another great sprint by the Brazilian (and Karl too)

Murilo now leads the Gc, but Karl has gone back up to 2nd overall! But the jewel of the day was Ben Day, who went up onto the podium to receive our first stage race jersey!

Stage:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 3h56'45
2 Karl Menzies Caterpillar s.t.
3 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
4 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Transitions s.t.
5 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
21 David Veilleux Caterpillar s.t.
26 Rory Sutherland Caterpillar s.t.
27 Ben Day Caterpillar s.t.
29 David McCann Caterpillar s.t.
75 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.
153 Dean Windsor Caterpillar +4'35

General Classification:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 11h54'40
2 Karl Menzies Caterpillar + 8
3 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini + 10
4 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 12
5 Lars Ytting Bak Team HTC - Columbia + 13

Points:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 8 16
2 Lars Ytting Bak Team HTC - Columbia 0 14
3 Karl Menzies Caterpillar 6 12

Climber:
1 Ben Day Caterpillar 32 64
2 Leif Hoste Omega Pharma - Lotto 0 32
3 Niki Terpstra Team Milram 0 24

Just read through the whole thread and really enjoyed your story. Pity for Karl, sounds like a new Poulidor; and Ben made it through. Keep it up!

Thanks very much

Stage 4: Norwood – Goolwa (198.4km)

A very flat day today, and with no mountain points, whoever would be going into the break with me would be going for the stage win, or some TV time.
That job fell to David Veilleux, who joined 4 others in the doomed break. Given the short leash the break gave them, I told David to focus on the two sprints, which he took easily.


David gets the sprints - and more importantly, some cash

The 5 were caught, and down to a sprint it went, with Hilton Clarke given the leader role. I would have had him working for Karl, but Rupert was adamant that Hilton was our best chance for the stage.
The sprint opened – actually, it didn't – big crash, all of our guys safe though.


Big pile up!

Anyway, the sprint opened up, and it went terribly for us. Hilton went backwards (and that's saying it kindly) and didn't even get into the top 20! Eisel held off Brown and Spartacus for an impressive win


HTC take a good win

Stage:
1 Bernhard Eisel Team HTC - Columbia 4h31'15
2 Graeme Brown Rabobank s.t.
3 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
4 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini s.t.
5 Martin Pedersen Footon - Servetto s.t.
24 Hilton Clarke Caterpillar s.t.

General Classification:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 16h25'55
2 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 8
3 Karl Menzies Caterpillar s.t.
4 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - Farnese Vini + 10
5 Bernhard Eisel Team HTC - Columbia s.t.

Points:
1 Murilo Fischer Garmin - Transitions 0 16
2 Lars Ytting Bak Team HTC - Columbia 0 14
3 Karl Menzies Caterpillar 0 12

KOM:
1 Ben Day Caterpillar 0 64
2 Leif Hoste Omega Pharma - Lotto 0 32
3 Niki Terpstra Team Milram 0 24

Stage 5: Snapper Point – Willunga (242.1km)

Is it just me, or has Australia suddenly become really, really Italian...

The queen stage, with climbs of the Willunga hill, which almost seemed completely different from it's usual self. My job would be with the break again, trying to secure Ben Day's jersey and perhaps go for the stage win.
Early on, Dean Windsor went out the back – no point in trying to ride 180km solo, so he pulled out.
The first climb came, and there was nobody ahead, but the hammer was being put down by Garmin, resulting in Ben Day going out the back. I sent David Veilleux to cover the attacks at the top of the climb, and grab those maximum mountain points to keep Ben's jersey safe.


David Veilleux - Ben Day's hero for the day

David descended reasonably quickly, and found himself all alone, with the pack easing off, so he took the next sprint (Karl sprinted to 2nd ahead of Petacchi). Race radio then crackled into life: “Current points rankings: first, David Veilleux, 18 points...” Now that was a huge surprise! We were holding two jerseys!

Ben Day rejoined the peloton, and immediately attacked, joining up with David in a two man tt.


Caterpillar bosses will be happy, our two guys are the sole attention of the cameras!

Later on, they were joined by Carlos Barredo of Quick Step and Allan Davis of Astana, to form a 4 man break. Needless to say, these two ProTour riders dropped our two guys on the next climb, but Ben gobbled up the 3rd place on the final mountain points before being caught by the bunch.


Ben Day - tireless attacking

The finale was a mixture of attacks and not much happening. Carlos Barredo stayed away to take the stage but not the overall, despite a 2 minute win, while riders like Van Avermaet, Kroon, Geslin and Fischer all picked up time on the bunch. Our guys finished safely in the bunch, but fall way down the rankings, with Karl best placed in 18th.


A good win for Barredo, but he's so tired he can't even celebrate!

More importantly though, we now hold both the points and the climber's jersey! Champagne all round that night!

Stage:
1. Carlos Barredo QUICK STEP 6h27'44
2. Greg Van Avermaet OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO +2'12
3. Fabian Cancellara SAXO BANK +2'23

GC:
1. Greg Van Avermaet OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 22h55'59
2. Fabian Cancellara SAXO BANK +7”
3. Karsten Kroon BMC +56”

Really good story

Good Luck for this season

Really good story, and really good result for such a little team

Very good squad! Good luck!