Past Tours

<p>We go inside the Rabobank Workshop at the Santos Tour Down Under as the team mechanics prepare bikes for the crucial Willunga Hill stage.</p>

<p><b>Adelaide, 24/1/2010</b></p> <p>Rabobank's Australian sprinter Graeme Brown finally got the better of HTC Columbia's Andre Griepel during today's concluding stage of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under, but the performance still wasn't enough to overcome the newly established might of British Team Sky that produced a one-two result for Chris Sutton and Greg Henderson.</p> <br /> <p>Reversing the positions of their one-two finish in the Cancer Council Helpline Criterium one week ago, Sutton and Henderson benefited from being on the end of a classy lead-out train that drove into the final corner and dictated the terms.</p> <br /> <p>Finishing third in an outcome that could easily have been a stage victory on the street circuit in Adelaide's city centre, Brown found himself in an excellent position 400 metres out from the finish, before leadout man Tom Leezer appeared to lose speed.</p> <br /> <p>“Team Sky had people everywhere, they still had 3 or 4 guys with 300 metres to go, it felt like I was dodging Sky riders left, right and centre,” Brown said.</p> <br /> <p>“I had Tom Leezer in front of me and I wanted him to hit out just that little bit earlier but he'd been riding in the wind a fair bit and didn't have any more energy left.”</p> <br /> <p> Earlier in today's stage, Rabobank's Dutch Road Champion Koos Moerenhout tried his luck with an ambitious solo attack, but it was reeled in shortly before the first intermediate sprint.</p> <br /> <p>Brown's third placing in the sprint finish, impressive given the circumstances, still brought a frustrating conclusion to the Santos Tour Down Under for Rabobank, given the Australian had travelled to Adelaide with excellent early season condition..</p> <br /> <p>“I always want to perform at Tour Down Under and I'm a little bit disappointed this year,” Brown said.</p> <br /> <p> “I came in with great form and did manage to get two third places but not what I had hoped for.”</p> <br /> <p>While it was largely a foregone conclusion after yesterday's stage at Willunga, Germany's Andre Griepel held onto his lead in the General Classification today to become only the second rider in Tour Down Under history, alongside Adelaide local Stuart O'Grady, to win the race twice.</p> <br /> <p>Griepel finished 11 seconds ahead of 2005 TDU winner Luis Leon Sanchez, (Caisse d'Epargne)  with New Zealander Greg Henderson a further 15 seconds back in third.

<P><B>Willunga, January 23, 2010.</B></P><BR> <P>On a day that will be remembered as one of the 'bottle forever' moments of Australia's Santos Tour Down Under, Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) yesterday delivered a dramatic and&nbsp; unforgettable stage victory on the slopes of Willunga Hill, in what was widely proclaimed as the greatest stage in the history of the race.</P><BR> <P>As the 148 kilometre queen stage of the Tour Down Under reached its conclusion, a crowd estimated at well over 100,000 - the largest ever seen at an Australian cycling event – bore witness to a classic exhibition of street theatre as Sanchez and team-mate Alejandro Valverde duelled with Australia's World Road Champion Cadel Evans (BMC).</P><BR> <P>The finale could not have been more dramatic, with Sanchez attacking Evans at the death to claim victory as the remains of the peloton closed in from behind, driven by the HTC Columbia team-mates of overall race leader Andre Griepel.</P><BR> <P>Unfortunately for Rabobank, sprinter Graeme Brown who started the stage in 5<SUP>th</SUP> place on the G.C., 26 seconds behind Griepel, was unable to hold onto the group containing the G.C. leaders on the second taxing climb of Willunga Hill, effectively ending his hopes of an overall podium placing in the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under.</P><BR> <P>“Got over the first time with the group so that was a good sign but the second time they just rode a bit hard,” Brown admitted.</P><BR> <P>“It's a lot better than I was last year and ten times better than the year before so maybe next year I can stay with the group twice.”</P> <P></P><BR> <P>Disappointed with the outcome, Team Manager Frans Maassen called Dutch Road Champion Koos Moerenhout back from the group containing the G.C. leaders to assist Brown, as Rabobank tried desperately to stay in touch with Griepel.</P><BR> <P>“There was an attack from the big riders, you knew Evans and the Caisse d'Epargne guys that they were very motivated and this is also a good climb for them and they would attack there,” Maassen said.</P><BR> <P>“We had to stay with the sprinters and that was the problem, Graeme couldn't hold on with Griepel and McEwen.”</P><BR> <P>&nbsp;Rabobank will shift focus to today's concluding stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, a criterium race on the streets of inner-city Adelaide where Brown will be among the favourites.</P><BR> <P>“I've won there before a few years ago, there's a little hill in it which suits me pretty good, a slightly uphill finish which I like as well, “Brown said.&nbsp;</P>

<p>The Rabobank team hopes of winning a stage in the Tour Down Under remained high until the very last metres of the race, but it wasn’t on the cards for Graeme Brown. He lost in Adelaide in the last sprint to two Team Sky riders. Chris Sutton came in first before his team mate Greg Henderson. André Greipel is the overall winner, and the German also won three stages. This is his second overall win, as Greipel was also victorious in 2008.</p><br/><p>In the final sprint, Greipel's Team High Road took the day in a fairly relaxed manner, and this provided opportunities for the other sprinters, Brown included. He was now forced to recognise the superiority of the Team Sky block, who stormed the finish with four riders. Chris Sutton subsequently had a clear win, and Greg Henderson snatched second place from Brown by millimetres. </p><br/><p>"It’s disappointing that it didn’t work. This was our chance." Team leader Frans Maassen didn't blame anyone in particular. "The team didn’t do at all badly today. We were active, and in the final sprint Graeme was better set up than in the other sprints this week. Tom Leezer stayed with him for a long time. But Team Sky still had four men two hundred metres from the finish, so no one else had a chance. Brown managed to get surprisingly close in the end, but Sutton won fair and square."</p><br/><p>Maassen feels that not having a win does not put a damper on the race for his team. "Coming third twice. Yes well, it's not what we had been hoping for. We came to win a stage and maybe even a good classification for Pieter Weening, Koos Moerenhout or Stef Clement. Those three dropped out due to circumstances and unfortunately Graeme had no success this time either. It's a pity, because I think he is in good shape. But a sombre feeling now? No, absolutely not. This was a really great race. We didn’t win a stage, but we certainly had a great time."</p><br/>

<p>General Manager of the Rabobank Cycling Teams Harold Knebel is currently combining business with pleasure. Over the past week he has intensively followed the Tour Down Under and will remain in Australia for a little longer after the team has left. Knebel will study the commercial possibilities of the Tour Down Under in conjunction with Rabobank Sydney. “This race is already far more important than people in the Netherlands realise, and its importance will only continue to grow in the coming years. This also provides us with future commercial opportunities." An interview with Harold Knebel.</p><br/><p>Why are you actually in Australia?</p><br/><p>"To follow the team in the first serious race of the year, but mainly to look at the commercial possibilities of the Tour Down Under. This tour is definitely in the ascendant and its importance will only increase in the coming years. In recent years we've seen in the Tour of California what such a race can mean for the Rabobank guys. There we have a complete programme with former cycling-superstar Hennie Kuiper as host, and that works out really well. I'm here to list the possibilities for Australia."</p><br/><p>In the Netherlands, many cycling fans still regard the Tour Down Under in a fairly patronising way. That it shouldn't mean anything, "That's not at all true. Naturally the race as a whole is something of a sprint, but this is now a very grown-up and exceptionally attractive competition. Once you see what names are lining up here at the start, and how they perform, that says enough. I have enjoyed a week of great cycling, a fantastic atmosphere, all professionally organised and riders who gave the race their all. What more do you need in a stage race?"</p><br/><p>A win from the Rabobank team? "Naturally we wanted to set Brown up for a stage win. But that was not the case. We are not upset about it, although it is good to have a ProTour win behind you. I've been here all week and witnessed how the team got on. The guys were great. We had to keep adapting to the circumstances: Weening feeling sick, Moerenhout's and Clement’s loss of time due to a fall. Silly setbacks. And very strong blocks in the springs. Can't be helped."</p><br/><p>But people at home are still under the impression that it's a training event. "That also has to do with the timing. The Christmas turkey is still being digested, the remains of the fireworks are still on the streets. There's a reason why in the past we used to name the weekend with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne as the opening weekend of the cycling year. Last year we were at Down Under, California and Qatar already before that weekend. The realisation that cycling is going global still has to sink into public consciousness."</p><br/><p>So are we going to have a road-racing season of twelve months in the near future? </p><br/><p>"Cycling is certainly becoming more international. Last week in Australia I learned what cycling means here. It is unknown. We don't oppose the trend of more competitions taking place outside of Europe. Also, these are competitions in which you can earn points, this time for the starting order of cars in the Tour of Flanders, for example. After 2010, maybe even for some of the starting rights in the major races. Who can say?"</p><br/>

<p>Rabobank's Australian sprinter Graeme Brown and Team Manager Frans Maasen critique today's stage 6 of the Santos Tour Down Under, where Brown finished third.</p><br/>

<p>Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown, leadout man Tom Leezer and tempo man Rick Flens preview the final stage of the Tour Down Under.</p><br/>

<p>Rabobank Team Manager Frans Maasen and Australian sprinter Graeme Brown deliver thier post mortem on stage 5 of the Santos Tour Down Under as Brown looks ahead to the stage 6 criterium in Adelaide.</p><br/>

<p>The Rabobank team were not successful in keeping Graeme Brown close to the major contenders on Saturday’s fifth stage of the Tour Down Under. Even though the Australian sprinter was well surrounded by teammates Koos Moerenhout (photo) and Stef Clement on the last climb of Old Willunga Hill, he was unable to pull it off. Brown also dropped from the top of the classification that had been Saturday’s main objective. The stage was won by Luis Leon Sanchez, and André Greipel remained in the lead.</p><br/><p>Saturday’s unsuccessful mission was disappointing for the Rabobank team, mainly because developments in the stage had initially fuelled hope that it would be a success. The first passage of the toughest climb in the race went well with Brown, while the tempo in the group was not exactly low at the time. Only Tom Leezer Of the Rabobank team was forced to fall behind, but he regained ground quickly.</p><br/><p>'On the top, margin was doable' Things went a little awry in the second climb. Stef Clement remained close to the team leader in this stage. Koos Moerenhout managed to push through to the front with the big names. "We had agreed on this. Koos would see how things were on the top. If the difference with Graeme was already considerable, he would push on, if not, he would wait." On the top of the hill, team leader Frans Maassen was still hoping, with a margin of just twenty seconds. "So Koos was waiting."</p><br/><p>After the climb in front they pushed on to chase a group of 4 riders who had broken away early. Brown had support from Moerenhout and Clement, but in the chase for the sizeable peloton they found just one other 'ally', Gert Steegmans. "And that wasn't enough. I still hoped that Radioshack would have someone waiting, but that didn't happen. Immediately after the top in particular, it was still doable, but there weren't enough of us", Frans Maassen lamented.</p><br/><p>Last chance Sunday is the last stage, and the test will be twenty laps of 4.5 kilometres in the streets of Adelaide. Frans Maassen: "We continue to hope. But I have to concede that Team High Road and André Greipel are very, very strong here. It would be a pity to return home empty-handed though, but right now this applies for fifteen of the eighteen teams that started out in this race."</p><br/>

<P>Like last year, for Graeme Brown Saturday’s second climb of Old Willunga Hill was the killer. The scene was identical: an ostensibly doable difference on the top, twenty seconds, but no chance at all in the remaining twenty kilometres to the finish. Three hours after the finish the disappointment has faded somewhat, but spirits are still a little diminished. "I wanted it so much, I've worked so hard for it and the guys were fantastic. Yes, this is definitely a major blow." An interview with the Rabobank team leader of the Tour Down Under.</p><br/><p>You hate Old Willunga Hill now, or can you put it into perspective?</p><br/><p>"I can put it into perspective, but this was hard, right after the finish. It is so very disappointing, but I have to admit that I wasn't good enough. And that is still the biggest blow. This week I myself had the feeling that climbing was going better than last year, and the first climb of Old Willunga Hill only reinforced this. A lot of riders had to give up, but I was able to keep going. But at the last climb, I just didn't have it anymore. The light went out."</p><br/><p>What is the actual progression in relation to last year then?</p><br/><p>"I've become stronger, even if the results don't show this. But it feels this way. I can take on difficult terrain more easily, and have more power in the sprints. I had that feeling last week already, in the Jayco Bay Classic, and this has only improved since then. It's just a pity I still cannot convert this into a good result."</p><br/><p>The team is fully behind you in Down Under. "That is indeed a great thing. Today Stef Clement and Koos Moerenhout sacrificed themselves for me. They could have easily gone on with the first group. This week, the team also helped me so much. Jos van Emdem was sometimes even a little too good in the final runs. It's just a pity that Tommie Leezer is not as strong as he was around this time last year, he hasn't reached the form yet. But we are definitely going to accomplish great things this year."</p><br/><p>One more chance tomorrow. Twenty laps.</p><br/><p>"The race in Adelaide will suit me very well. I have already won there, on the same route. But I have to be honest, the chances are not really that great. In the sprints, Team High Road is a little too much for everyone here, and Greipel is also stronger than I am. This doesn't mean I can't win. I would like that very much, because the fans here are amazing. I get goose bumps from this every day."</p><br/><p>The team is returning to Europe on Monday. When will we see you?</p><br/><p>"I'm coming on 10 February. My first race is the Tour of the Algarve. I know, plenty of climbs like Old Willunga Hill. But that's good for me. And anyway, there are also some sprints. And then we can look forward to the Belgian and Dutch semi-classics. Those are my competitions. Like the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, which I won last year, and The Green Heart. Yes, I do dream of winning a true classic, but we have to remain realistic."</P><br/>

<p>Rabobank's Stef Clement talks about his role in yesterday's escape move and his job helping Graeme Brown on the climbs in today's stage 5, while Graeme Brown tries to relax ahead of the race defining climb of Willunga.</p><br/>

<p>A season opening victory continued to elude Team Rabobank, but it wasn't for the want of trying today as both sprinter Graeme Brown and Dutch time trial champion Stef Clement chased a result during stage four of Australia's Santos Tour Down Under.</p><br/><p>Lunging across the line in third place, Brown came the closest yet to scoring Rabobank's first 2010 UCI Pro Tour victory, but again it was the Tour's overall leader, German Andre Greipel (HTC Columbia), who benefited from being in the slipstream of the strongest lead-out team in the business, scoring his third stage victory for this year's race.</p><br/><p>Negotiating tricky crosswinds towards the end of the 149.5 kilometre stage from Norwood to Goolwa via the Adelaide Hills, Brown received excellent support from his tempo man Rick Flens, who positioned Rabobank's sprinter in the best possible position at the 1 kilometre to go mark.</p><br/><p>From there Rabobank's leadout man Jos Van Emden took over and gave it everything to stay with the Columbia train, before Brown launched an ambitious sprint.</p><br/><p>“I was pretty close to the front, still too far back for the speed of the sprint,” Brown said.</p><br/><p>“I think if I had Greipel's wheel I could have given it a fair nudge for the win.” The result lifted Brown into fifth place on the General Classification, 26 seconds in arrears of Greipel, but very clearly within striking range of fourth placed Belgian Gert Steegmans (Radio Shack), third placed Greg Henderson (Team Sky) and second placed Robbie McEwen (Katyusha).</p><br/><p>The margin between second and fifth is just six seconds and Brown will have his old rival McEwen firmly in his sights when the peloton is confronted with repeat efforts over the summit of Willunga Hill during tomorrow's race defining fifth stage.</p><br/><p>Rabobank's team leader knows anything is possible if he can conquer Willunga Hill ahead of his G.C. rivals.</p><br/><p>“I'm pretty confident that I can do it, I'm climbing really well,” Brown said. “I think it's the best I've ever climbed in my life, so if there's ever a time that I can do it it's tomorrow.”</p><br/><p>If the plan is to succeed, Brown will need the support of his team-mate Stef Clement, who tested his legs with an attacking ride in today's breakaway.</p><br/><p>Clement featured in the move, which started on the climb of Gorge Road, not far out from the race start.</p><br/><p>The Dutch Time Trial Champion was third behind Austria's Thomas Rohregger (Milram) on the day's only KOM climb and was in contention for stage honours until the group was caught inside the final 30 kilometres.</p><br/>

<p>The first glance, the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under seemed to run along the same lines as the first two. A long breakaway, another major sprint and once again, a win for André Greipel. But there were differences. The strong wind turned the final section of the race into a battlefield. And the Rabobank ProTeam was in the picture all day due to the presence of Stef Clement in a long offensive. "Maybe against my better judgement, given the circumstances, but that's how it worked out and I don’t regret it at all." A short interview with Stef.</p><br/><p>In the photo: Stef Clement is awarded the price for the most forceful rider.</p><br/><p>After a few kilometres, were you thinking ‘What have I started here?’</p><br/><p>"Not at all. On the contrary. In days like this, you really are better off staying out of the peloton, with trying to get through openings and pushing, there's the danger that things will go wrong. This wasn't planned, but in retrospect that was a good thing. I enjoyed riding in that group. It was good for the sponsor and in the end I even won the prize for being the most forceful rider. That's an achievement. And it wasn't for nothing."</p><br/><p>You say it wasn't planned as such, but according to Frans Maassen, you need to be attentive to these things.</p><br/><p>"Koos Moerenhout and I were told to pay attention for the bigger breakaways. See, with two people in situations like this, it's one thing. But a group of five or more can really achieve something. It just worked immediately, it was a fluke, because in the neutralisation, a kilometre before the start, Koos and I were riding last and second last. I cycled past the peloton to the front and could get in there right at the start."</p><br/><p>You missed the last part of last season through injury. How are things going for you in Down Under? "Extremely well. I knew what to expect here, because I was here last year. But the conditions are actually good for the moment, the powers of recovery are already at a good level. I'm very positive about this. My intention here is mainly to build up rhythm. The feeling must come back and that objective is definitely being achieved, even though this is certainly not an easy race."</p><br/><p>But for now no real success has been achieved for the Rabobank team. How are you going to do things tomorrow with Brown?</p><br/><p>"He is definitely going to get over Willunga Hill. But when we're on the top there for the last time, we will need to take a look to see where Greipel and the rest of the competition is. The thing is, with those great riders, we don’t want to waste any energy climbing the hill, that's a given. But we still have twenty kilometres to go after the last climb. If a group is gone and you can find allies, such as Greipel with the Team High Road, then a good classification is likely."</p><br/><p>Sunday will be the end of the race, and you’ll be leaving warm Australia for the cold again. A shock.</p><br/><p>"We really have to be careful with this, take things easy for the first week. We can't train outside for too long, and fortunately that won't be necessary, because you have to recover a bit first. After a week we're joining the entire Down Under group and going to Mallorca, where we'll continue to work on preparation. This was already planned, so the team has taken it into consideration. Certainly there's high praise for this transition.”</p><br/>

<p>For the Rabobank team, Friday, the fourth day of the Tour Down Under turned out to be their best so far. Stef Clement pretty much stole the show in a long breakaway and Graeme Brown (left in the photo beside Greipel) eventually came third in the sprint, so the team can be reasonably satisfied, given the situation in Australia. Once again, little could be done about the supremacy of the Team High Road and sprinter André Greipel. The German won his third race of this week.</p><br/><p>Because of the strong wind, the 150-kilometre long stage of Norwood to Goolwa was the most difficult until now. 47 riders fought for the prizes at the finish in Goolwa. Even Lance Armstrong and Alejandro Valverde missed that battle, as they broke down and pulled out of the peloton in the final ten kilometres because of the strong wind. The two top competitors finished in a small group that included Koos Moerenhout and they ultimately lost seventeen seconds.</p><br/><p>Greipel reigns supreme</p><br/><p>Once again, André Greipel’s powerful pedalling reigned supreme in the final sprint, even though the difference with the competition was less pronounced than in the first two days. Behind Greipel it was a case of mere millimetres. Also Graeme Brown, started off well by Jos van Emden and Tom Leezer, remained among the first riders. He lost second place by a hair (Robbie McEwen) and just managed to keep Gert Steegmans off the virtual podium.</p><br/><p>In a breakaway that lasted 135 kilometres, Stef Clement was definitely the man of the day. Six riders, including Clement, got away immediately at the start, however, Team High Road din't give them any room. As a result, the difference constantly fluctuated around three minutes. The Rabobank rider was the only one to remain in the final, but was forced to surrender less than fifteen kilometres from the finish. His competitive drive earned him the prize of the most belligerent rider of the day.</p><br/><p>Brown now fifth</p><br/><p>In the meantime, Graeme Brown climbed to fifth place in the general classification. Team leader Frans Maassen once again considers the final classification. "Saturday will be the decider. Just like last year, we are going over Old Willunga Hill twice. Three kilometres and not to be underestimated." Normally this would be too much for Brown, but Maassen is sticking by last year, when the Australian held on until the very last minutes. "I am sure that Graeme's climbing has improved, so this is going to be exciting. We are quietly hoping for a good classification."</p><br/>

<P>Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown and tempo man Rick Flens describe the finale to stage 4 of the Santos Tour Down Under. A stage that almost brought a result for Team Rabobank.</P><BR>

Rabobank Team Director Harold Knebel talks about the pressure to score an early season victory, looks ahead to the 2009 racing year and gives his first impressions of the Tour Down Under.

<p><b>Stirling, Australia: 21/1/2010</b></p> <p>Portugal's National Road Race Champion Manual Cardoso ( Footon-Servetto-Fuju) scored the most impressive of wins today, overcoming the pure class of World Champion Cadel Evans and Spain's Alejandro Valverde to claim stage three of the Santos Tour Down Under.<br /> </p><br /> <p>Cardoso sprinted to glory in an uphill finish at the end of a 132.5 kilometre stage that had been earmarked by Australian sprinter Graeme Brown and his Rabobank team-mates as their best chance to claim a stage win.</p> </p><br /> <p>On a day when the temperature soared to 40 degrees, Brown was in the mix until the final 600 metres of the stage, but at the death the marquee sprinters were left behind in conditions that clearly suited the pure climbers.</p> </p><br /> <p>The Rabobank sprinter finished the stage in sixteenth place, and now sits in ninth on the General Classification, still 20 seconds behind overall leader, Germany's Andre Greipel (HTC Columbia).</p> </p><br /> <p>“At the end I was completely gone,” Brown admitted.</p> </p><br /> <p>“I felt really good up until the 600 metres to go and then I really started to feel the whole day's work.”</p> </p><br /> <p>Burying his head in an ice bucket when he reached the Rabobank Team van, a despondent Brown watched as his team-mates staggered home, clearly stressed by the Australian heat.</p> </p><br /> <p>The day started disastrously for Rabobank with climber Pieter Weening forced to abandon minutes ahead of the stage start, suffering from what appeared to be the on-going effects of heatstroke.</p> </p><br /> <p>There were few opportunities to rest on course on a day where the pace was high, driven largely by breakaway efforts from talented young Australians including Simon Clarke (Uni-S.A. Australia) and Jack Bobridge (Garmin Transitions) who ensured the peloton was always chasing.</p> </p><br /> <p>“The weird thing is, the hotter it gets the faster they go,” Rabobank's Dutch National Time Trial Champion Stef Clement said.</p> </p><br /> <p>“Nobody stopped today, they didn't stop attacking, I think the group that went away they got a maximum of 1 minute 30 (seconds) for all day.</p> </p><br /> <p>“Everybody seemed to have less problems with the heat than us.”</p> </p><br /> <p>Tomorrow will offer little respite for the Rabobank Team with the mercury expected to soar above 40 degrees on the 149.5 kilometre stage four from Norwood to Goolwa.</p> </p><br /> <p>Given the conditions and the constant attacks that have been a feature of the race so-far, the likelihood of a successful breakaway will make it difficult for the sprinter's teams, that will need to maintain maximum effort to keep the race together. </p>

<P>Rabobank Australian sprinter Graeme Brown and Dutch time trial champion Stef Clement describe their stage 3 experience as the mercury soars to forty degrees at the Santos Tour Down Under.</P><BR>

<P>Frans Maassen is in Australia for the first time, and is pleasantly surprised by the Tour Down Under.</P><BR> <P>In recent years the cycling season has been brought forward closer to the start of the year, which means racing and preparation starts earlier. The main cause of this is the development of the Tour Down Under which has transitioned from a local tour to the first professional competitive Tour of the season. This year’s tour is Frans Maassen’s first time there as a team leader. "I am particular surprised by the professional level of this tour. In all aspects. This competition is going to become ever more important."</P><BR> <P>What is your general impression after a week in Australia? "It’s a wonderful country with really great people. But of course I don’t mean just that. Initially there is the crazy transition from freezing cold Europe to baking hot Australia. Today, it was forty degrees Celsius, for example. In any case, we’re not used to these temperatures, it's the middle of winter back home. It’s a really odd feeling, sitting outside at a café just two weeks after the winter holidays. It’s actually unreal."</P><BR> <P>But with regards the competition? What does the Tour Down Under actually mean in comparison with European stage races? "A lot. I am particularly surprised by the professional level of this race. The organisation, the route, how we are looked after. Everything is just perfectly organised. I have nothing but praise for this. You also see this in the riders, they are just giving it their all. It is not just a glorified training competition, and obviously this used to be the case. Now it is most definitely the real thing. This competition is going to become ever more important."</P><BR> <P>A major competition so early in the year. Does this make sense? "Many will ask themselves this, but the event is getting more and more praise, also from champions like Armstrong, Evans and Valverde. The ProTour points are still very much sought after. Here it is in part possible to earn a good position in the order of the trailers in the great classics. If you don’t do so well, you can still follow in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) later on. That reduces your chances considerably in such a major competition."</P><BR> <P>Then something has to happen with the Rabobank team in the coming days? "Yes, and this is why it is such a pity we have lost Pieter Weening. He rode very well here, and during the climbs in the first two days showed he could tackle hills very well. Pieter was well placed in the classification. He could have finished well, and it’s through the classification that the most points are earned. Koos Moerenhout is also good with climbs, but Koos has lost time through bad luck."</P><BR> <P>And now? "We hope that Graeme Brown can catch up the day after tomorrow. That is the most difficult day. Normally that would not be the case, but you never know. Last year he hung on in that stage by the seat of his pants. I have the feeling that this year he is better uphill than last year around this time. So …. But first we’ll try to give him a good start on Saturday for a successful day’s race.”</P><BR>

<p>We go inside the Rabobank pro cycling team with Graeme Brown's soigneur Ton de Vann, see what fuels the riders on a baking hot day and capture the drama as Pieter Weening is forced to exit the Santos Tour Down Under due to illness.</p><br/>

<p>For the Rabobank team, the third day of the Tour Down Under was not their best to date. The team had to deal with a setback right from the start. Pieter Weening (photo) reported in sick at breakfast. Feeling weak and listless, Weening decided not to ride out this morning. As a result, the Rabobank team did not play a significant role in today’s lively race. The final run was too much for the sprinters, therefore also for Graeme Brown, who came in at sixteenth place. Manuel Cardoso won today’s stage.</p><br/><p>Even so, the team was very hopeful of success. “The boys were counting on André Greipel not being able to accomplish much in the sprint, and Graeme’s success was relying on that.” Team leader Frans Maassen saw all of the sprinters founder in the last kilometre, including his trump card Brown. “Once you see who can finish the race by themselves, then everyone knows enough. This was not a finish for sprinters."</p><br/><p>According to the team leader, Pieter Weening’s absence did not play a big role today. “It is a shame for Pieter, because this could have been his day. He could have tested himself. The top ten in the general classification was within reach and then you become someone to watch.” Weening stated at breakfast that he was not feeling well. The tour doctor gave permission to ride, but at the start the Frisian felt weak and listless, so participation was pointless.</p><br/><p>The race seemed to be going well into the final stage. The finish was at the top of a two-kilometre climb and the Rabobank team train came through the first part with no problems. Tom Leezer and Jos van Emden guided Brown to the front, but a kilometre from the end Leezer could no longer follow. At 500 metres Lance Armstrong broke away, but Van Emden counter-attacked valiantly – so valiantly in fact, that Graeme Brown also had to pass. As a result big names such as world champion Cadel Evans and Vuelta winner Alejandro Valverde were in with a chance to win. However, Portuguese champion Manuel Cardoso surprised pretty much everyone.<p>

<P><B>Hahndorf: 20/1/2010</B></P><BR> <P>Germany's Andre Greipel (HTC Columbia) produced electrifying pace over the final fifty metres today to claim his second consecutive stage victory at the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under and in the process take a stranglehold on the General Classification. </P><BR> <P>On a day of missed opportunities for Team Rabobank, Australian sprinter Graeme Brown was left to dwell on what might have been after finding himself on the wheel of the overall leader with just four hundred metres to go as the race reached the German themed village of Hahndorf.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“A really strange sprint,” was how Brown described the finale as a selection of the world's fastest men, Allan Davis, Robbie Hunter and Robbie McEwen among them, queued up to take on the impressive HTC Columbia train.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“I'm never happy when I don't win, you know I was in a good position with 400 metres to go on Greipel's wheel, the eventual winner, and he seemed to have just gave up,” Brown said.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“I started to do my own sprint and then he won.”</P> <P></P><BR> <P>Brown had his own challenge to confront over the final 200 metres as Katyusha's McEwen chose a left hand line that left the Rabobank sprinter with little room to move.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“I saw a few gaps so I thought I've got to start my sprint now and I started just at the same time as Robbie (McEwen),” Brown said.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“I hesitated because he was going towards the fence then I had to keep going again, we were sort of going head to head on the left-hand side but the race passed us on the right hand side.”</P> <P></P><BR> <P>Brown crossed the finish line in 5<SUP>th</SUP> place, leaving him 7<SUP>th</SUP> overall on the general classification, 20 seconds behind Greipel, in a sprinter's race where seconds can effectively mean minutes.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>The Rabobank Team will focus its efforts on tomorrow's stage three from Unley to Stirling, where Brown will attempt to go one better than his second placed result last year to Allan Davis.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>Brown and lead-out man Tom Leezer scouted the stage finish during training last week and believe the hilly profile over the final kilometres will provide their best opportunity to take time back from the German.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“There's still hope, I like the stage tomorrow, I like the finish tomorrow,” Brown said.</P> <P></P><BR> <P>“It's going to be very tough but I did well on it last year and I think I can again this time.”</P> <P></P><BR> <P>Tomorrow's 132.5 kilometre stage begins at Unley in suburban Adelaide and will head along a coastal route, via the wine growing district of McLaren Vale, before venturing into the Adelaide Hills.</P>

<p>Jos van Emden's (photo), second fully professional season began this January, in the Tour Down Under. The young rider is competing in Australia to serve for sprinter Graeme Brown. “We came here to achieve at least one successful day, and are giving this our all. Sadly today was not as good for me as Monday, otherwise we would be closer to this goal." An interview with Jos van Emden.</p><br/><p>You finished in the first group today. How was your day? "I didn’t feel it was as good as Monday. The best was gone by the time I reached the final part, I had more left over on Monday. It’s a pity about today, because Rick Flens was very good and Tom better than Monday. Coming into the last five kilometres, Rick was formidable. Then I took over, and Tom was supposed to come after me. But the climb three kilometres before the finish did me in. We lost connection with High Road and after that nothing more could be done."</p><br/><p>On Monday you actually had to do it on your own. So you had to go for much longer. "Yes, that’s the crazy thing about it. That actually went well, even if it wasn't possible for Graeme to win. But I was able to get on well in the sprint with Graeme immediately behind me. Normally Tom is behind me, and Graeme is behind him, but Tom was no longer there, and it was an odd feeling to have the captain right behind during such a sprint. At 500 metres I left the High Road train and that was too early."</p><br/><p>Even so, you’re all in good form after two days. Is the chemistry so much better than last year in Down Under? "Absolutely. We rode well then, but forming a team for Graeme was a new thing. It didn’t always go smoothly, but was somewhat successful nonetheless. What’s different now is that we function better automatically. If Tom Leezer goes to the left, Graeme actually knows that beforehand. He anticipates certain things and naturally this increases our chances."</p><br/><p>How hard is the transition from the cold Netherlands to very warm Australia? "You get used to it. Even now I am more comfortable with the heat this year, in comparison with last year. Last year it really was baking hot. What we have noticed is the difference in condition and power in the guys who have spent the winter here. In this, the Aussies have the advantage, they are setting the pace. Graeme is by far the best in our team at the moment, in all aspects."</p><br/><p>And how’s it going with you. How are you hanging in there? "I definitely feel stronger than last year. Logical enough, after a year of major competitions among the great riders. It’s been good for me; I have gained in terms of capacity and strength. And here in Australia? We came here to achieve at least one successful day, and are giving this our all. Sadly today was not as good for me as Monday. But we have considerable confidence in Graeme, as he has in us. This creates composure and peace within the team."</p><br/>

<p>The second stage of the Tour Down Under was very similar to Monday’s stage. Despite a futile long run by three riders, André Greipel was once again the winner, with Graeme Brown (photo) in the second group of sprinters right behind. On Monday he came in seventh, on Tuesday he did slightly better at fifth place. In the general classification in the Australian race, the Rabobank team captain is in seventh place. Jos van Emden climbed to ninth place in the youth classification.</p><br><p>Once again, the peloton started out at a reasonably steady pace. Three aggressors pulled ahead fairly easily, and after 40 kilometres their advantage over the rest had grown to 11:35. Race leader Greipel’s team could not let this continue, but it took until well into the race before the last two attackers were overtaken.<p/><br/><p>Killer hill<p/><br/><p>The peloton then split up in the very difficult last section of the race, partly due to a major fall four kilometres from the finish. This time no one from the Rabobank team was involved. Rick Flens, Jos van Emden, Tom Leezer and Graeme Brown seemed set for a duel with team High Road, but after a strong impetus, a hill three kilometres on proved to be too much for the Rabobank team. Only Tom Leezer had recovered enough to take on this challenge, and this was inadequate against the force of the Team High Road and André Greipel.<p/><br/><p>"Graeme has scored his first ProTour point of the season, and after Monday’s fall, the day is going well for Tom Leezer.” Team leader Frans Maassen saw enough to be optimistic for the rest of the tour. "Last year Graeme also came into his own halfway through the race. Our riders are getting into their stride, you could see this today. It’s going to be fine from here."</p><br/>

<p>Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown provides his analysis of today's "really strange" sprint in Hahndorf, which was won for the second successive day by Team Columbia's Andre Greipel.</p><br/>

<p>Graeme Brown discusses the parcours for stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under as leadout man Tom Leezer update us on his recovery from yesterday's crash.</p><br/>

<p>HTC Columbia's Andre Greipel lived up to expectation as the man to beat in the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under on what proved to be a challenging day for Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown and his team-mates on the road from Clare to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.</p> </p><br /> <p>At the end of 141 kilometres, the German sprinter and 2008 winner of the Tour Down Under showed superior top-end speed to claim the stage ahead of Belgians Gert Steegmans (Radio Shack) and Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto).</p> </p><br /> <p>Brown showed impressive form to stay with the contenders over the summit of the final Mengler's Hill climb, 27 kilometres from the finish, but timed his kick a little too early in the finishing straight to claim seventh place, one spot in front of his fierce rival Robbie McEwen (Katyusha). </p><br /> <p>“At 1k to go I had a good position, at 800 metres to go I had a bad position so I thought there's no use having good legs and coming 20^th,” Brown said.</p> </p><br /> <p>“So I started my sprint at 500 metres to go and it's just too long.</p> </p><br /> <p>“I was already pretty much flat out when Greipel started his sprint and I just had to hang on.”</p> </p><br /> <p>Of greater concern to Team Rabobank management was the condition of Brown's team-mates who will play crucial roles in coming days as they chase stage wins for their sprinter and attempt to keep Brown in contention for the general classification.</p> </p><br /> <p>Three Rabobank riders, Stef Clement, Tom Leezer and Rick Flens were caught up in a massive pileup, just after the start of today's stage in Clare.</p> </p><br /> <p>The crash was serious enough to destroy one of Leezer's wheels, but Clement sustained the worst physical damage from a shunt that left him in serious pain.</p> </p><br /> <p>“It was the first official crash of the season and it happened after 200 metres, not even in the real race, it was in the neutralisation,” Clement said.</p> </p><br /> <p>“I visited the chiropractor yesterday and I think I should revisit her today, because I've got a little pain in the back, in the elbow and in the neck because someone drove into me.”</p> </p><br /> <p>“That's cycling and tomorrow let's hope we'll get out of the crashes.</p> </p><br /> <p>With team mechanics expected to work long into the night repairing crashed bikes, Rabobank will shift focus to tomorrow's 133.5 kilometre stage from Gawler to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills where Brown is confident of being in the mix, should the race finish in a sprint.</p> </p><br /> <p>“I'm disappointed that I didn't win, but on the other hand I know I'm going well, I was in the front group of riders over Mengler's Hill so I'm pretty happy.”</p> </p><br /> <p>Hahndorf is traditionally one of the most popular stage finishes at the Santos Tour Down Under and a capacity crowd is expected to line the streets of the German themed village in the Adelaide Hills. </p>

<p>Tuesday’s first stage of the Tour Down Under did not yield the result the Rabobank team had hoped for. Graeme Brown was unable to withstand the oiled machine of the Team High Road during the final sprint. Brown’s most important asset in the final part, Tom Leezer (photo), quit twenty kilometres before the finish, owing to an early fall and a subsequent lack of form. &quot;The consequences of the fall are not serious, but are a factor if the final becomes difficult. But I wasn’t in the best shape.&quot; </p><br /> <p><strong>A short interview with Tom Leezer.</strong></p><br /> <p>A good start to the season is different.</p> <p>&quot;Yeah. I too had imagined it differently. The Cancer Council Classic on Sunday went well, but of course that was a race of just one hour. Today we hadn’t gone one kilometre and I was on the ground. In the middle of the peloton, right in front of me, to my right and my left, riders were falling. There was no stopping it.&quot;</p><br /> <p>The consequences?</p> <p>&quot;I think it will be okay. Of course you get a bad fright, but I’m happy to say I didn’t suffer too many scrapes. I didn’t slide over the road surface; rather I bounced around a little bit. I landed on my hip, which wasn’t so good, because throughout that stage I had the feeling that I was slightly crooked on my bike. The race doctor has already been, and an Australian osteopath is coming by later. Graeme Brown organised this.&quot;</p><br /> <p>You were forced to fall behind at the end. Because of the fall?</p> <p>&quot;Yes and no. Naturally it wasn’t quite right and it doesn’t help if you have a climb when entering the homestretch. This forced me to give up. I have to be honest, today was not a good day for me. It just didn’t feel right. My legs were certainly far from super. Graeme needed me in the sprint, but there’s nothing more to be done about it. We still have five more chances this week. We aim to win one stage and I have great hopes of this.&quot;</p><br /> <p>Last year you yourself also scored a good placing in the Tour Down Under. How will this week go?</p> <p>&quot;If I can stay with Graeme in the final sprints, I will automatically score a good placing. I’m hoping for this. As today wasn’t so great, I still feel that tomorrow is another day and things can improve. In any case, I certainly haven’t given up hope.&quot;</p><br /> <p>And then there are the big races next spring. Any ambitions of your own?</p> <p>&quot;Here, we are pushing for Graeme, this is where he has the greatest chance of success. I myself would like to be ready at the Belgian Opening Weekend. After that there’ll be my races, and that period lasts for six weeks. I’m aiming for a good victory in a semi-classic. I should be able to achieve this. I expect that I have become even stronger, and my experience is also increasing. The Tour of the Green Heart in Holland seems exactly the right race for me.&quot;</p><br />

<P>Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown describes the finish to stage one of the Tour Down Under as team-mates including Dutch time trial Champion Stef Clement lick their wounds on a day marred by crashes.</P><BR>

<P>We talk with Rabobank's money man Graeme Brown and Dutch Champion Koos Moerenhout as the stars of cycling roll into Clare for the start of the Tour Down Under.</P><BR>

<P>Brown seventh in first stage</P><BR> <P>Graeme Brown 7th in the 1st stage. Three Rabobank team members involved in a pile-up.</P><BR> <P>The race has started in the Tour Down Under, the first ProTour competition of the season. After 141 kilometres in the searing heat, German André Greipel triumphed in what is now almost his traditional victory on Australian soil, in the sprint in Tanunda. Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown (photo) could not play a significant role in this, as he was missing the support of two team-mates, Tom Leezer and Rick Flens, both of whom came in trailing well behind, partly due to a fall at the start of the race.</P><BR> <P>Just one kilometre into the race the peloton came unstuck, when someone in the middle of the group made a steering mistake, causing 40 competitors to crash. Despite the considerable havoc that ensued, fortunately injuries were not serious. Rabobank team members Tom Leezer, Rick Flens and Stef Clement were involved in the incident. Team leader Frans Maassen was shocked, but to his relief damage was limited to superficial grazes and some twisted bicycles.</P><BR> <P>Bit of a shock</P><BR> <P>"You get a fright when you see half the peloton go down like that. I was thinking ‘that can’t be it, surely?” said Frans Maassen. "But luckily everyone was alright. Later on there’ll be an Australian osteopath coming to the hotel to see if he can help us out, he’s a friend of Graeme Brown’s. On the face of it the damage doesn’t seem too serious, but we also want to prevent a situation in which the boys are not comfortable on their bikes."</P><BR> <P>All those involved in the crash were able to rejoin the peloton quickly, but three participants managed to avoid it and get ahead. The three managed to gain an advantage of up to ten minutes, but with the finale in sight, the ‘Team High Road‘ in particular gave great chase. Before the last obstacle of the day, a short but murderous climb, the stragglers caught up with the leaders. However, the climb was too much for many in the peloton, including Leezer and Flens.</P><BR> <P>"In the sprint, we missed Tommie Leezer especially. He plays an important part in setting Graeme’s pace. Nevertheless, I don’t think we would have won today”, admitted team leader Maassen. “Our goal this week is still a stage victory. And with Brown on the team, I have great hopes of getting close to this. He is in very good shape."</P><BR>

Rabobanks tempo man Rick Flens talks about the Tour Down Under experience and his role supporting sprinter Graeme Brown.

Defending Tour Down Under Champion Allan Davis (Astana) talks about his chances in a race that he has come to know better than anyone in the professional cycling peloton.

Rabobank's Aussie sprinter Graeme Brown previews stage one of the Santos Tour Down Under and offers his thoughts on his sprint rivals following yesterday's curtain raiser, The Cancer Council Helpline Criterium.

Follow the fortunes of Graeme Brown and the Rabobank Team at the curtain-raiser to the Tour Down Under, the Cancer Council Helpline Criterium.

Santos Tour Down Under Race Director Mike Turter's no-nonsense assessment of a race that suits the sprinters.

World Road Race Champion Cadel Evans talks about his new team BMC Racing and his expectations at the Santos Tour Down Under.

Rabobank Team Manager Frans Massen talks tactics ahead of the Cancer Council Helpline Criterium and wonders whether he will ever see a kangaroo in real-life!

<p><b>Adelaide, Australia</b></p> <br /> <p>British Team Sky burst onto Cycling's UCI Pro Tour scene today with a one-two result in the Santos Tour Down Under curtain raiser, The Cancer Council Helpline Criterium, but there were also promising signs for Rabobank on a day when luck wasn't on sprinter Graeme Brown's side.</p> <br /> <p>With an estimated crowd of 100,000 watching the international season opener, it was former Rabobank domestique Matt Hayman who delivered the result for his sprinter, Greg Henderson of New Zealand.<br /> <br /> </p> <p>Hayman's fine display of tempo riding on the final lap of the 51 kilometre criterium nullified the much-hyped leadout train of Team Columbia HTC's Andre Greipel and it was only a miscalculation on the penultimate corner that prevented Rabobank's speed merchant Graeme Brown from featuring in the final analysis.</p> <br /> <p>“The last major corner, the second-last corner, I just got squeezed out on the outside,” Brown said.</p> <br /> <p>“I lost a few positions and I had to do too much work to get back there and it just didn't work.</p> <br /> <p>“Sometimes you've got to have a bit of luck and today wasn't my day.”</p> <br /> <p> In what could only be described as a triumphant day for the sport of cycling in Australia, with record crowds in attendance and an Australian, Cadel Evans, on the start line in the rainbow jersey, it was the great Texan Lance Armstrong who stole the show early on.</p> <br /> <p>Racing in the colours of his new team, Radio Shack, the seven-time Tour de France winner featured in a four-man breakaway that was always doomed to be reeled in, given the high stakes for the sport's marquee sprinters.<br /> <br /> </p> <p>While success didn't come Brown's way today, the four-time Tour Down Under stage winner is feeling confident ahead of Tuesday's first stage of the UCI Pro Tour's season opener.</p> <br /> <p>“Yeah I'm happy, there's a few little things in the race that make me know that I've got good legs, so I'm pretty happy with it,” Brown said.<br /> <br /> </p> <p>Rabobank's lead-out man for the TDU, Tom Leezer, also felt better for the first-up hit-out, after struggling in recent days to acclimatise to Australian conditions.</p> <br /> <p>“Not that bad, pretty good actually, it's always a bit strange the first race and also because it's a really really fast circuit with corners,” Leezer said.</p> <br /> <p>“It went O'K, only the last corner we missed it, so probably the sprint, we lost it in the last corner or before the last corner.”</p> <br /> <p>Tuesday's stage one of the Tour Down Under will take the peloton on a 141 kilometre journey from Clare to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley wine growing region.</p> <br /> <p>The mostly flat parcours should produce a sprint finish, giving the Rabobank Team an opportunity to deliver a result for Graeme Brown. </p>

<p>Actions spoke much louder than words yesterday as the Rabobank Pro Cycling Team ventured out on a serious course reconnaissance mission ahead of next week's Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia.</p> <br /> <p>Showing promising form, Australian sprinter Graeme Brown led the team over the summit of Willunga Hill, a short but potentially race defining power climb, that in previous years has decided the fate of many of the marquee sprinters vying for overall honours in the UCI Pro Tour opener.</p> <br /> <p>“I felt great, no problem at all,” Brown said as the team stopped at the village of Meadows mid-ride to visit a donut shop, recommended by Adelaide's most famous cycling product Stuart O'Grady.</p> <br /> <p>After winning a stage in the 2009 Tour Down Under, his fourth stage victory in the race's short history, Brown struggled on the Willunga climb and lost valuable time, putting him out of contention for the G.C.  It was a disappointing outcome for the Rabobank team, given at one stage Brown had shared the G.C. lead with eventual winner Allan Davis.</p> <br /> <p>Conserving his energy during the long training ride, Rabobank cyclist and three-time Dutch time trial champion Stef Clement was impressed with Brown's form.</p> <p> </p> <p>“We went to see Willunga Hill today, it's supposed to be the most important stage of the Tour Down Under, we went to look and feel Willunga Hill and we also did some exercises in speed, some leadouts for our sprinter, (Graeme) Brown,” Clement said.</p> <br /> <p>“He looks in good shape, he's always very motivated for the Tour Down Under so it's very promising.”</p> <br /> <p>Clement is returning to Australia for his second Tour Down Under and is eager to get back into racing after a nagging foot injury ended his 2009 season following the Tour de France.</p> <br /> <p>After enduring 30 plus degree temperatures for the first time here yesterday during the team's 140 kilometre training ride, Clement admitted the race would be challenging.</p> <br /> <p>“Last year I didn't know what to expect but this time I know that this is a hard race, this is a serious race, this is a Pro Tour race, this is not a holiday,” Clement said.</p> <br /> <p>“I like it better than doing a training camp and I've done enough training weeks already, the mind is open for races now.”</p> <br /> <p>The Tour Down Under starts next Tuesday, January 19^th, but will be preceded tomorrow by the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, a criterium race in the heart of Adelaide featuring the Tour Down Under teams, where Rabobank sprinter Graeme brown gets the chance to open his 2010 season with a victory.</p>

We go behind the scenes with the Rabobank team mechanic Tim Dejonghe, checking out bikes the Rabobank team will ride at Tour Down Under and also ask his impressions on the new Shimano electronic shifting system the team will use this year in Europe.

Graeme Brown's leadout man Tom Leezer talks about his role supporting the Rabobank sprinter at Tour Down Under and shares his experiences of pre-race training in Australia.

Rabobank's three-time Dutch Time Trial Champion Stef Clement talks about his role supporting Australian sprinter Graeme Brown as the team scouts the crucial Willunga Hill climb.

<P>Enjoying a rare break from the intense training and racing that goes with being a cyclist on the UCI Pro Tour, The Rabobank Pro Cycling Team took in the sights of Adelaide yesterday on one of Australia's most famous 'coffee rides'.</P><br /> <P>With sprinter Graeme Brown once again acting as tour guide, The Rabobank Team set off on a journey along Adelaide's spectacular beaches, from Port Adelaide, via Larg's Pier and Henley Beach, to the popular cafe strip at Glenelg.</P><br /> <P>Standing out among the coffee shop crowd in his Dutch Road Champion's jersey, veteran professional Koos Moerenhout admitted to having a “sort of a holiday feeling” as he sipped coffee and relaxed, just days out from the start of the Tour Down Under.</P><br /> <P>“It's about 30 degrees, sunny, we had a nice two hour ride alongside the beach,” Moerenhout said.</P><br /> <P>“It's very hard the race itself, but outside the race it's much more relaxed than the first races in Europe.”</P><br /> <P>A two time winner of his National Road Championship, Moerenhout has fond memories of Adelaide.</P><br /> <P>The respected professional of 15 years standing won a criterium event associated with the Tour Down Under here in 2001.&nbsp; A victory he still describes in light hearted terms as “the first pro victory of the new millenium”.</P><br /> <P>“Yeah, that's ten years ago, already a long time ago, the first stage criterium in Adelaide and I won there solo ,” Moerenhout recalled.</P><br /> <P>“That was also my first time in Australia, it was a nice win.”</P><br /> <P>Ten years later, Moerenhout finds himself as a key member of the team that will support Australian sprinter Graeme Brown in a race where Rabobank has high hopes.</P><br /> <P>“First of all we've got the sprinter Graeme Brown, he's in shape, he showed that in the races in Australia before this one,” Moerenhout said.</P><br /> <P>“We're going to look after him and hopefully he can get some good results in the sprint.</P><br /> <P>“Besides that, we have to control the race to make it sometimes a bunch sprint.”</P><br /> <P>The Rabobank Pro Cycling Team will step up its pre-tour preparation today when the riders set off on a 5-hour training ride where they will conduct reconnaissance of the testing Willunga Hill climb.</P><br /> <P>Should Brown find form in the sprints early on, Willunga could decide whether or not Brown features in the race for the General Classification.</P><br />

Dutch road race champion Koos Moerenhout talks about the feeling of being "on holidays" in Adelaide and his experiences of the Tour Down Under.

<P>The screeching sound of Australia’s mythical black cockatoo heralded the arrival of the Rabobank Pro Cycling Team yesterday as the riders ventured into the Adelaide hills for their first serious training session ahead of next week’s Santos Tour Down Under. </P><br /> <P>With the team’s Australian connection, sprinter Graeme Brown, acting as tour guide Rabobank enjoyed a taste of the spectacular Australian countryside while dusting off the effects of a long haul flight across the world from icy Europe. </P><br /> <P>According to team manager Frans Maassen, when most of the riders left home in The Netherlands, the temperature was minus 5 degrees celsius. Fortunately, Rabobank’s arrival in Adelaide coincided with the end of a heatwave which had driven temperatures high into the forties. </P><br /> <P>When the team ventured out yesterday for a 100 kilometre training session, conditions were mild and light rain was falling on the gentle climb of Gorge Road, a popular tourist drive into the Adelaide Hills that provided captivating scenery. </P><br /> <P>“It’s a little hilly up the Gorge and the boys, some of them found it a little tough,” Brown said. </P><br /> <P>“It’s the jetlag and the different changing weather I guess, but it was a pretty quick trip home.” </P><br /> <P>Brown’s role won’t be limited to travel agent duties, having been given the responsibility of leading the Rabobank Pro Cycling Team for the opening race of the 2010 UCI Pro Tour. </P><br /> <P>In a race suited to sprinters, the dual Athens Olympics track gold medallist is targeting stage victories at the very least and hasn’t ruled out contending for the General Classification. </P><br /> <P>“Our first objective is to win a stage, second objective is to win two stages,” the laconic Brown said. “The third will be to try for overall classification, it’s not the main priority but it’s definitely something personally I’d like to do.” </P><br /> <P>Rabobank’s team for the Santos Tour Down under has been structured to suit Brown’s needs and will feature leadout man Tom Leezer, Dutch road champion Koos Moerenhout, Dutch time trial champion Stef Clement, Rick Flens, Jos van Emden and Pieter Weening. </P><br /> <P>“This is a race for the sprinters, they say, and we built the team a little around Graeme, he’s our Australian hope this week,” Team Manager Frans Maassen said. </P><br /> <P>“I think he’s in good condition and he has some help from Tom Leezer in the sprint, he is the last man to lead out and we also have (Jos) van Emden who can do some work in the sprints and Rick Flens who can do something.” </P><br /> <P>Brown will be among the leading contenders when racing begins Sunday, January 17th with the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, a pre-race criterium in Adelaide city that has become part of Tour Down Under tradition. </P><br /> <P>The race proper will commence Tuesday, January 19th, with a 141 kilometre road stage from Clare to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley wine growing region. </P><br />

Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown describes the team training ride through the Torrens River Gorge and assesses his goals for the Santos Tour Down Under.

Rabobank Team Manager Frans Maassen talks about today's training ride and the team that will support Graeme Brown at the Santos Tour Down Under.

<P>Standing: Rick Flens, Koos Moerenhout, Tom Leezer, Jos van Emden, Pieter Weening and Stef Clement</P> <P>In front: Tim Dejonghe, Frans Maassen and Walter Boom

Winner of stage 20 on Mont Ventoux, Rabobank cyclist Juan Manuel Garate looks back on his succesful Tour de France.

Spanish Rabobank rider Juan Manuel Garate won the mountain stage on Mont Ventoux today.

Spanish Rabobank sprinter Oscar Freire was not strong enough to beat Cavendish. Freire's teammates worked hard to close a gap between nineteen riders and the peloton, but Freire could not finish the job today.

For Spanish Rabo cyclist Juan Manuel Garate, the time trial around Annecy Lake was pretty hard. In this video he talks about his motivation for the stage, his illness, not being able to perform at 100%, and what to expect from him on the Champs Elyees.

Denis Menchov fell twice during stage 17 and sustained minor injuries, he reassures that they will not affect his performance in the last couple stages of this Tour de France.

Rabobank cyclist Denis Menchov talks during the rest day in Martigny about his Tour, how he lost energy following his win of the Giro d'Italia, and the plan for the time trial and final days of the Tour de France.

Oscar Freire talks about the air rifle shot wound he sustained during stage 13 of the Tour de France and Rabobank's inability to get in on the right break in the peloton during stage 14 to the French city of Besancon.

Spanish Rabobank rider Juan Antonio Flecha sustained a severe knee injury in the Tour de France on Friday when he fell early in the stage from Vittel to Colmar.

Rabo cyclist Juan Manuel Garate had it pretty tough during stage 12 of the Tour de France from Tonnerre to Vittel. The Rabo team tried the whole day to get a man in front but finally missed the break and had to leave the win to Dane Nicki Sorensen from Saxobank.

Silence Lotto's Aussie rider Matthew Lloyd talks through teammate Cadel Evans' status in the race, his chances of winning the yellow jersey, the team's strategy for the rest of the Tour, and a message for supporters back home in Australia.

RaboPlus is an official broadcast sponsor of this year's Tour de France. We're also loud and proud supporters of the Rabobank pro cycling team. Go Rabobank!

Sprinter Oscar Freire talks about stage 10 of the Tour, how he wasn't able to make a sprint to the finish, and the controversial radio ban.

Juan Antonio Flecha talks about his contribution to the mountain race in the eighth stage of the Tour.

Juan Manuel Garate talks about the team's strategy for the first mountain stage of the Tour de France.

AGU director Peter van den Kommer gives an insight on the more technical details of cycling clothing for riders in the Tour de France.

Rabobank team leader (and former Rabobank rider) Frans Maassen talks about upcoming Stage 5 of the Tour de France and how the wind will impact the team's performance and the race overall.

Rabobank time trial specialist, Stef Clement talks about things the team need to be aware of and strategies as the team prepares for the stage 4 team time trial.

Spanish Rabobank rider Juan Antonio Flecha talks about his role in the third stage of the Tour de France, supporting sprinter Oscar Freire, and his personal goals when the Tour reaches Barcelona.

Rabobank Pro Team Leader Erik Breukink gives his take on the team's disappointing day 1 results, how he keeps them motivated, and the strategy for the days ahead.

Denis Menchov gives a candid interview revealing personal details such as how he relaxes during his down-time, how he copes with media attention, pressures and expectations during the Tour, and a message to his fans.

Denis talks about his preparation for the Tour de France, following his Giro d'Italia win.

Juan Antonio Flecha talks about the strength of the Rabobank team and his role in the upcoming Tour de France, supporting Menchov, and Oscar defending the green jersey.

Spanish Rabobank rider Juan Manuel Garate gives his impressions of Rabobank's chances leading up to the Tour de France, and his role in helping Menchov during the climbing stages of the Tour.