Woodhead staff and clients travelled between Mawson Lakes and Angaston to watch Tasmanian Matthew Goss (HTC – Highroad) storm home to win the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Under.
The Woodhead bus carrying Woodhead staff and clients, departed the Chesser Street office at 9am to find a position at the Mawson Lakes Boulevard where Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under 2001 was commencing. Staff and clients soaked in the atmosphere and enjoyed coffee at the starting line before reboarding their bus for the famous Barossa Valley. After a scenic drive, the group arrived at the famous 1918 Restaurant situated on the main street of Tanunda. With not a care in the world, they enjoyed a sumptuous lunch accompanied by wines of the region. The only decision to be made during that afternoon was whether to watch the bikes roll past from the comfort of the shaded seat under the umbrellas on the lawn, or whether to pick up your glass of wine and stroll over to the footpath to ‘feel the rush’ of the peloton just millimeters away. With the bike race passing the pleasant venue three times, there were plenty of opportunities to soak in the elite event. The satisfied contingent eventually rolled back into the bus and landed home again late that afternoon (with some revelers then finding their second wind).
Goss sprinted home at the end of the 138km IG Markets Stage One from Mawson Lakes to the Barossa town of Angaston in a time of 3:17:08 with defending Tour champion, Andre Greipel (GER / Omega Pharma-Lotto) second and Queensland’s Robbie McEwen(Radioshack) close behind in third place.
The win by the 24 year old comes two days after he outpaced the same world class field of international sprint heavyweights in the Cancer Council Classic on Sunday night.
“I am really happy to get the win for me and the team (because) they rode all day it’s for them,” said Goss. “Two for two, great for team moral and spirit, a good few days I think.”
In close to perfect conditions, 133 riders set off from Mawson Lakes with an estimated 101 thousand cycling fans lining the course especially in the towns and villages that dotted the route.
Goss goes into the second stage wearing the Santos ochre leader’s jersey and is four seconds ahead of Greipel overall and six seconds up on McEwen. Goss also leads the Cycle Instead Young Rider and Jayco Sprint classifications.
Clarke was named the Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider for the stage and Sky Pro Cycling is leading the Brilliant Blend Teams Classification. Roberts leads the Skoda King of the Mountain competition.
Tomorrow’s IG Markets Stage 2 will see the riders cover 146 kilometres from Tailem Bend to Mannum on the banks of the Murray River.
