English
Adelaide: 18/01/2009
Wim Stroetinga has brought in his first top placing in his very first road race for Team MILRAM. In the Cancer Council Classic, a 51 km opening criterium for the Tour Down Under (January 18-25/UCI ProTour), the Dutch newcomer to the German ProTour team sprinted to a second-place finish. Winner of the mass sprint in Adelaide’s Rymill Park was Australian Robbie McEwen of Team Katusha. Third was Graeme Brown (Rabobank).
“I could have been winning, only two weeks after turning pro. They locked me, there was some pushing. But never mind, that’s sprinting. If the line had been ten meters further I would have managed. On the other hand, now I’m second behind Robbie McEwen. That is a guy that always impressed me”, said Wim Stroetinga. “This is a big step for me, although the race was of course only 51 kilometers. In the Netherlands there were some people saying, he is just racing fast on the track. He can’t do that in roadracing. I think I’ve showed now what I’m capabel of. This is good for the Milram-team and myself. My collegues now will be more confident. I like it very much with Milram, we are a tight group. That a guy like Christian Knees did a lot to bring me in front, shows that we are a bunch of friends.”
“This second place will be a surprise to many. But not to me. Cycling insiders recommended Wim Stroetinga to me as an absolute sprint talent,” said team manager Gerry van Gerwen. “Of course we must not forget that the opener in Australia is a short criterium and that Wim still has to prove what he can do in longer races over 200 kilometer. But I am sure that this multiple Dutch track champion will make the transition to being a pro on the road.”
The race on the circuit course in Adelaide was marked by multiple attacks, although no one was able to stay away for long. It was especially difficult for breakaways in the finale, as the sprinter teams moved to the front and set the tempo. Team MILRAM also was very active in this phase, in order to bring Wim Stroeting into good position for the mass sprint.
Results:
1 Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team Katjusha 1:04:32
2 Wim Stroetinga (NED) Team MILRAM
3 Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank
4 Andre Greipel (GER) Team Columbia-High Road
5 Jose Rojas (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne
6 Allan Davis (AUS) Quick Step
7 Baden Cooke (AUS) UniSA
8 Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Liquigas
9 Hilton Clarke (AUS) Fuji-Servetto + 1
10 Chris Sutton (AUS) Garmin-Slipstream
…
31 Luca Barla (ITA) Team MILRAM + 8
34 Christian Knees (GER) Team MILRAM + 9
54 Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Team MILRAM
74 Markus Eichler (GER) Team MILRAM + 24
87 Ronny Scholz (GER) Team MILRAM + 26
108 Martin Müller (GER) Team MILRAM + 29
Team MILRAM at the Tour Down Under:
Christian Knees (GER/Euskirchen), Luca Barla (ITA/Bordighera), Martin Müller (GER/Berlin), Markus Eichler (GER/Mönchengladbach), Wim Stroetinga (NED/Drachten), Thomas Rohregger (AUT/Innsbruck), Ronny Scholz (GER/Forst)
Directeur Sportif:
Vittorio Algeri (ITA)
The stages:
18. January, Prologue: Cancer Council Classic 51 km
20. January, 1st stage: Norwood – Mawson Lakes 140 km
21. January, 2nd stage: Hahndorf – Stirling 145 km
22. January, 3rd stage: Unley – Victor Harbor 136 km
23. January, 4th stage: Burnside Village – Angaston 143 km
24. January, 5th stage: Snapper Point – Willunga 148 km
25. January, 6th stage: Adelaide City Council Circuit 90 km