January 17, 2007 — Australian Karl Menzies scored his biggest career result so far when he powered home at the end of the 155.5km stage one from Mawson Lakes to Tanunda to claim the early lead in the 2007 Tour Down Under.

72,000 fans lined the race route through South Australia’s picturesque Barossa Valley wine growing region to witness the action and support the international field of 111 riders.

Menzies was part of an 18 strong group that formed 16 kilometres into the stage but played his tactical cards to perfection in the final 30 kilometres to put himself with the leaders approaching the final sprint. The powerfully built 183cm Tasmanian, riding with the UniSA-Australia team, reacted quickly to counter an attack from Predictor-Lotto debutant, Australia’s Matt Lloyd, 800 metres from the finish. Menzies blew past Lloyd and hit the front with 300 metres remaining. He won in a time of 3h50m51s ahead of fast finishing Swiss rider Martin Elmiger (AG2R-Prevoyance). Denmark’s Lars Bak (Team CSC) crossed three seconds later to claim third.

Menzies’ win comes hot on the heels of his third place finish in the men’s road race at the Australian Championships last Sunday.

“This is as big as it gets for me – this is the best result by a long way,” said Menzies. “That was everything I had on Sunday at the Nationals and I was beaten by two stronger guys on the day but you know another day, another race and I had the best legs today.

“We thought it might go down early, so we all had to be up there,” he said of the early breakaway. “The group went and that was it for the day and then the attacking started with 30km to go and five of us left in the end, we all worked all the way to the line.”

Menzies now holds a narrow one second lead overall from Elmiger with Bak a further six seconds off the lead. Lloyd is sitting in fourth at nine seconds.

“I was a bit upset that I made the move because it means I’ve gotta make it up that Willunga Hill (Saturday’s stage) so a bit of presure but I’ll have a think about that later,” joked Menzies. “I was just happy to win a stage and I could probably go home now if I wanted to (laughs). But I’ll try and get to the end and we’ll just wait to see what happens.”

In the ‘SA Lotteries’ Sprint Classification Gene Bates (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) is tied on six points with Luke Roberts (CSC) but crossed the line ahead of his rival at the finish to lead that classification. Belgian Serge Pauwels (Chocolade Jaques) leads the ‘A Brilliant Blend’ King of the Mountain rankings. SouthAustralia.com-AIS rider Simon Clarke has an almost unassailable lead in the ‘Share the Road’ Best Young Rider as the only U23 rider in the lead break and Juan Miguel Mercado (Agritubel) was named the ‘Century 21’ Most Aggressive Rider of the day. The CSC team holds the lead in the Bartercard Teams Classification.

Stage 1 started under sunny skies with the promise of as steamy day in the saddle for the stellar field of riders who wasted no time getting the racing underway. South Australian, Brett Aitken (UniSA-Australia) launched an early attack at the six kilometre mark and he was joined soon after by fellow South Australian, Gene Bates (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) and New Zealand’s Gordon McCauley but the break failed to stick.

However at the 16 kilometre mark an attack was launched that proved to be the decisive one and by the first SA Lotteries intermediate sprint of the day at One Tree Hill (26.5km) 18 riders had established a lead of more than two minutes. South Australian Luke Roberts (CSC) claimed the sprint points ahead of Bates and Spaniard Juan Miguel Mercado (Agritubel).

With a lead group containing a rider from each team of the race, (CSC, SouthAustralia.com-AIS, Predictor-Lotto and Bouygues Telecom had two representatives each in the group), there was no incentive for the rest of the field to chase it down and by the time the leaders reached the ‘A Brilliant Blend’ King of the Mountain at Humbug Scrub the gap had increased to more than five minutes with only New Zealand’s Clinton Avery giving chase.

The second intermediate sprint at Williamstown (59.9km) saw Bates first across the line ahead of Roberts with Elmiger third. Avery remained a lone figure 6m14s behind the leaders with the gap to the main field at almost 12 minutes.

The leaders passed through Tanunda intact to begin the first loop through the Barossa Valley intact but when they approached Seppeltsfield for the final loop the attacks began and by the time the front of the race turned back onto the Barossa Valley Highway at Nuriootpa for the final run into the finish the five riders who would fight out the placings were well clear.

Stuart O’Grady (CSC) led home the main field 26m15s after Menzies with Avery placing 19th at 24m35s after a very lonely day on the road.

The Tour Down Under is an internationally accredited race, endorsed by the world cycling federation, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and is owned and managed by Events South Australia, a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission.

The 2007 Tour Down Under will be held 16 — 21 January 2007. For further information please visit the official website at www.tourdownunder.com.au

Results Stage 1

1. Karl Menzies (Aus) Australia – UniSA 3.50.51 (40.42 km/h)
2. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r Prévoyance
3. Lars Bak (Den) Team CSC 0.03
4. Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Predictor – Lotto
5. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Unibet.com 0.11
6. Gene Bates (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS 0.45
7. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld
8. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole
9. Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
10. Simon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS 0.58
11. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel 2.42
12. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
13. Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram 2.58
14. Gordon McCauley (NZl) New Zealand National Team
15. Serge Pauwels (Ned) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
16. Nicolas Crosbie (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
17. Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
18. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 3
19. Clinton Avery (NZl) New Zealand National Team 24.35
20. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC 26.15
21. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
22. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
23. James Perry (RSA) Barloworld
24. Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
25. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
26. Michael Ford (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
27. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
28. Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
29. Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
30. Sven Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
31. Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2r Prévoyance
32. Allan Davis (Aus) Australia – UniSA
33. Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld
34. Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld
35. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance
36. Hans Dekkers (Ned) Agritubel
37. Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel
38. Diego Caccia (Ita) Barloworld
39. Koen Barbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
40. Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC
41. Robert McLachlan (Aus) Australia – UniSA
42. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
43. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
44. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC
45. Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
46. Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
47. Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Predictor – Lotto
48. Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
49. Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC
50. Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC
51. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com
52. Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
53. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
54. Christophe Laurent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
55. Carl Naibo (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
56. Glenn D’hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
57. Russell Van Hout (Aus) Australia – UniSA
58. Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
59. Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
60. Brett Aitken (Aus) Australia – UniSA
61. Chris Jongerwaard (Aus) Australia – UniSA
62. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
63. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Barloworld
64. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Barloworld
65. Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
66. Cedric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel
67. Markus Eichler (Ger) Unibet.com
68. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor – Lotto
69. Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Unibet.com
70. Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
71. Yohann Gene (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
72. Oliver Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
73. Nicolas Roche (Ire) Crédit Agricole
74. Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
75. Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76. Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com
77. Peter Latham (NZl) New Zealand National Team
78. Matthew White (Aus) Australia – UniSA
79. Ben Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
80. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
81. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
82. Miles Olman (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
83. Fred Rodriquez (USA) Predictor – Lotto
84. Martin Mueller (Ger) Team Milram
85. Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Unibet.com
86. Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor – Lotto
87. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Team Milram
88. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
89. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
90. Mitchell Docker (Aus) Australia – UniSA
91. Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram
92. Matt Wilson (Aus) Unibet.com
93. Benoit Sinner (Fra) Agritubel
94. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
95. Scott Lyttle (NZl) New Zealand National Team
96. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
97. Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
98. Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com
99. Matthew Haydock (NZl) New Zealand National Team
100. Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram
101. Sebastian Schwager (Ger) Team Milram
102. Nicki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
103. Tim Gudsell (NZl) New Zealand National Team
104. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) New Zealand National Team
105. Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
106. Jonathon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
107. Logan Hutchings (NZl) New Zealand National Team
108. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
109. Johnnie Walker (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
110. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
111. Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel

GC after Stage 1

1. Karl Menzies (Aus) Australia – UniSA 3.50.45
2. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r Prévoyance 0.01
3. Lars Bak (Den) Team CSC 0.07
4. Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Predictor – Lotto 0.09
5. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Unibet.com 0.17
6. Gene Bates (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS 0.46
7. Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
8. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld 0.51
9. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole
10. Simon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS 1.04
11. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel 2.47
12. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.48
13. Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram 3.04
14. Gordon McCauley (NZl) New Zealand National Team
15. Serge Pauwels (Ned) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
16. Nicolas Crosbie (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
17. Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
18. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 3.06
19. Clinton Avery (NZl) New Zealand National Team 24.41
20. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC 26.21
21. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
22. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
23. James Perry (RSA) Barloworld
24. Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
25. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
26. Michael Ford (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
27. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
28. Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
29. Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
30. Sven Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
31. Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2r Prévoyance
32. Allan Davis (Aus) Australia – UniSA
33. Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld
34. Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld
35. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance
36. Hans Dekkers (Ned) Agritubel
37. Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel
38. Diego Caccia (Ita) Barloworld
39. Koen Barbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
40. Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC
41. Robert McLachlan (Aus) Australia – UniSA
42. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
43. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
44. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC
45. Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
46. Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
47. Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Predictor – Lotto
48. Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
49. Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC
50. Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC
51. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com
52. Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
53. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
54. Christophe Laurent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
55. Carl Naibo (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
56. Glenn D’hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques – Topsport Vlaanderen
57. Russell Van Hout (Aus) Australia – UniSA
58. Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
59. Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
60. Brett Aitken (Aus) Australia – UniSA
61. Chris Jongerwaard (Aus) Australia – UniSA
62. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
63. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Barloworld
64. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Barloworld
65. Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
66. Cedric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel
67. Markus Eichler (Ger) Unibet.com
68. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor – Lotto
69. Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Unibet.com
70. Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor – Lotto
71. Yohann Gene (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
72. Oliver Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
73. Nicolas Roche (Ire) Crédit Agricole
74. Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
75. Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76. Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com
77. Peter Latham (NZl) New Zealand National Team
78. Matthew White (Aus) Australia – UniSA
79. Ben Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
80. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
81. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
82. Miles Olman (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
83. Fred Rodriquez (USA) Predictor – Lotto
84. Martin Mueller (Ger) Team Milram
85. Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Unibet.com
86. Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor – Lotto
87. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Team Milram
88. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
89. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
90. Mitchell Docker (Aus) Australia – UniSA
91. Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram
92. Matt Wilson (Aus) Unibet.com
93. Benoit Sinner (Fra) Agritubel
94. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
95. Scott Lyttle (NZl) New Zealand National Team
96. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
97. Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
98. Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com
99. Matthew Haydock (NZl) New Zealand National Team
100. Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram
101. Sebastian Schwager (Ger) Team Milram
102. Nicki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
103. Tim Gudsell (NZl) New Zealand National Team
104. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) New Zealand National Team
105. Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
106. Jonathon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
107. Logan Hutchings (NZl) New Zealand National Team
108. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
109. Johnnie Walker (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
110. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
111. Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel