Ag2R's Mikel Astarloza relied on the sprinting prowess of his teammate Jaan Kirsipuu to hold off a final stage challenge from Stuart O'Grady, and a host of other Australians, hoping to keep the Spaniard from claiming the overall title at the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under.

Meanwhile, Ceramiche-Panaria powerhouse Graeme Brown should have had little reason to complain after surviving a week of frustration to finally win a stage in this year’s race.

Brown outsprinted Victorian Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) and Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2R) to take out the sixth and final stage, the 90km circuit race in Adelaide in South Australia on Sunday.

His victory, Brown said, puts him on the winning path towards his season goal of proving that Italian world champion Mario Cipollini is not invincible.

Now he wants to this against Mario

Photo: Graham Watson

Brown, from Sydney, last week labeled Cipollini as his main target for the year; especially for the Giro d’Italia, where the “Lion King” has is own sights set on the all-time record number of stage wins in the Italian national tour.

However, as Brown came to a halt after the final stage in Adelaide today, he still had one major regret: the win didn’t come over his main rival, fellow Australian Robbie McEwen.

Both are sprinters and openly dislike each other. Their feud resumed last week when Brown was relegated to last place after McEwen lodged a protest for dangerous sprinting.

But McEwen, the Tour de France green jersey champion, quit the race on Saturday due to a pinched membrane in his left knee.

He already trained lightly on Sunday and will see physiotherapist Viktor Popov in Queensland on Monday.

“I am very disappointed that he is not here because I wanted to beat him. I thought I could, I believed I could and my team thought I could,” said Brown. “But it is in his best interests because of his knee. We want him in the Tour, mixing it with the best.”

A national alliance
It was still a busy day for Brown yesterday. He spent much of it trying to help South Australian Stuart O’Grady claim a fairytale overall win on ‘Australia Day’.

With a little help from his friends.... O'Grady tried to control the day

Photo: Graham Watson

While on opposing teams, Brown agreed to lead-out O’Grady (Credit Agricole) in the two intermediate sprints before the finish that offered time bonuses.

“I worked for Stuart because it is always good to have an Australian winner,” said Brown who will now race in the Tour de Langkawi, which starts in Malaysia on Friday, January 31.

Going into the final stage on Sunday, O’Grady was fourth at five seconds to Astarloza and one of five riders within seven seconds of the race lead and overall victory.

To try and win his third Tour Down Under, O’Grady not only recruited the help of Brown and the United water team made up of Australia’s Under 23 development squad as well.

The stage failed to follow O’Grady’s plan. He only gained one second in the intermediate sprints, a problem he owed much to Astarloza’s Estonian teammate Kirsipuu.

While Kirsipuu was not an overall contender, by going for the bonus seconds he minimized O’Grady’s chances of gaining precious seconds and thus beating Astarloza.

Coming into the finish after 20 laps of the 4.5km Adelaide circuit O’Grady needed to finish at least second on the stage if he was to win. However, he placed fourth.

“I knew it was going to be a matter of beating Kirsipuu across the line (in the sprints),” said O’Grady. “I had a couple of friends out there from other team who were trying to give me a hand. But I am a couple of paces off, just not quick enough today.”

For Astarloza, 23, it was the perfect day. He defended his lead by finishing 16th in the bunch and at the same time as Brown.

Second overall was Denmark’s Lennie Lange Kristensen (CSC) on same time, followed by O’Grady at 4 seconds and Italy’s Giampolo Caruso (ONCE) at the same time.

A native Basque from the city of San Sebastian, Astarloza’s overall victory was his first since turning professional last season.

Ranked 845th in the world, he finished 18th overall at 12 minutes and 55 seconds to ACT’s Michael Rogers in last year’s race.

“My first race as a pro was the Tour Down Under. To come back and win it is fantastic,” he said amidst slaps on the back and hugs from his teammates.

Astarloza, who took the yellow jersey on Saturday’s tough fifth stage on the Willunga circuit, today proved his confidence of keeping it was well founded.

“I really think I handled it (the pressure) quite well. It is the first time I have ever been the leader of a race. It was also due to the team who took on the responsibility,” he said.

Astarloza hopes the win will turn his career around. It was on tenterhooks after being warned to perform after his first season.

He was only recruited when his cousin Inigo Chaaurreau Bernadez, 12th in the 2001 Tour de France, demanded he join in a clause of his own contract.

“I can really believe in myself. It will change my mentality. The only thing I had to do coming into this race was to ride well. I didn’t even think about winning,” he said.

Race Note
The news wasn’t all bad for the Aussies on Sunday, as the South Australian government announced that the Tour Down Under will continue for another five years to 2009.

Stage 6 - January 26: Adelaide City Council circuit
1 Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, 90km in 1:52:09 (48.1kph),
2. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com
3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R
4. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole
5. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep-Davitamon
6. Nicola Gavazzi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
7. Stefan Schumacher (G), Telekom
8. Bernhard Eisel (A), FDJeux.com
9. Julian Dean (NZ), CSC
10. Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA
11. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo
12. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski
13. Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water
14. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2R
15. Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo
16. Mikel Astarloza (Spa), Ag2R
17. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R
18. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R
19. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC
20. David Canada (Spa), Quickstep-Davitamon
21. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
22. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA
23. Andy Flickinger (F), Ag2R
24. Stefen Wesemann (G), Telekom
25. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom
26. Giampaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski
27. Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom
28. Angel Vicioso (Spa), ONCE Eroski
29. Lennie Kristensen (Dk), CSC
30. Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com
31. Wim Vansevenant (B), Lotto Domo
32. Tristan Hoffman (Nl), CSC
33. Christopher Jenner (NZ), Credit Agricole
34. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep-Davitamon
35. Christian Werner (G), Telekom
36. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon
37. Geert Van Bondt (B), CSC
38. Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R
39. Patrick Jonker (Aus), UniSA
40. Stefano Zanini (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
41. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom
42. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Ag2R
43. Kai Hundertmarck (G), Telekom
44. Andrea Tafi (I), CSC
45. Jens Voigt (G), Credit Agricole
46. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA
47. Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski
48. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto Domo
49. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa), ONCE Eroski
50. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 0:17
51. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Panaria Fiordo
52. Thierry Marichal (B), Lotto Domo
53. Dirk Reichl (G), Telekom
54. David Betts (Aus), United Water
55. Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA
56. Cedric Herve (F), Credit Agricole
57. Glenn d'Hollander (B), Lotto Domo
58. Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water
59. Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water
60. Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water
61. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto Domo
62. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Dk), CSC
63. Dario Pieri (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
64. Gert Steegmans (B), Lotto Domo
65. Allan Davis (Aus), ONCE Eroski, at 0:23
66. Joerg Ludewig (G), Saeco-Longoni Sport
67. Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 0:26
68. Lilian Jegou (F), Credit Agricole, at 0:32
69. Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 0:38
70. Davide Bramati (I), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 0:40
71. Jacky Durand (F), FDJeux.com, at 0:42
72. Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 0:45
73. Mickael Pichon (F), FDJeux.com, at 1:26
74. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 1:42
75. Regis Lhuillier (F), FDJeux.com, at 1:44
76. Jakob Piil (Dk), CSC, at 1:52
77. Scott Davis (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 2:42
78. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 3:00

DNF Sergey Matveyev (Ukr), Panaria Fiordo
DNF Christophe Moreau (F), Credit Agricole
DNF Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Credit Agricole
DNF Christian Pepoli (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
DNF Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex), Panaria Fiordo
DNF Bernard Sulzberger (Aus), United Water
DNF Juan Fuentes (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport
DNF Benoit Vaugrenard (F), FDJeux.com
DNF Filippo Perfetto (I), Panaria Fiordo
DNF Ruben Bongiorno (Arg), Panaria Fiordo

Jacob's Creek final general classification after stage 6
1. Mikel Astarloza (Spa), Ag2R, 17:17:45
2. Lennie Kristensen (Dk), CSC
3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole, at 0:04
4. Giampaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski
5. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo, at 0:06
6. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 0:07
7. Patrick Jonker (Aus), UniSA, at 0:09
8. David Canada (Spa), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 0:13
9. Stefen Wesemann (G), Telekom, at 0:15
10. Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom
11. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 0:16
12. Andy Flickinger (F), Ag2R, at 0:32
13. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA, at 0:39
14. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom, at 0:43
15. Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA, at 0:44
16. Angel Vicioso (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 0:45
17. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep-Davitamon
18. Geert Van Bondt (B), CSC
19. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA
20. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R, at 0:47
21. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon 0:49
22. Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R
23. Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 0:58
24. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2R, at 2:17
25. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom, at 2:21
26. Christopher Jenner (NZ), Credit Agricole
27. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Ag2R
28. Christian Werner (G), Telekom
29. Kai Hundertmarck (G), Telekom, at 2:31
30. Andrea Tafi (I), CSC, at 5:54
31. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 6:06
32. Cedric Herve (F), Credit Agricole, at 6:45
33. Wim Vansevenant (B), Lotto Domo, at 6:58
34. Dirk Reichl (G), Telekom, at 7:41
35. Joerg Ludewig (G), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 7:45
36. Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 9:35
37. Glenn d'Hollander (B), Lotto Domo, at 11:22
38. Tristan Hoffman (Nl), CSC, at 11:58
39. Allan Davis (Aus), ONCE Eroski, at 12:13
40. Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water, at 12:15
41. Bernhard Eisel (A), FDJeux.com, at 12:23
42. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 12:36
43. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 13:24
44. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R, at 13:32
45. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 13:34
46. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto Domo, at 13:45
47. Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water, at 13:47
48. Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 13:50
49. Regis Lhuillier (F), FDJeux.com, at 15:34
50. Jens Voigt (G), Credit Agricole, at 15:47
51. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Dk), CSC, at 16:02
52. Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski 16:15
53. Stefan Schumacher (G), Telekom, at 16:53
54. David Betts (Aus), United Water, at 18:35
55. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski 18:50
56. Scott Davis (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 20:03
57. Gert Steegmans (B), Lotto Domo, at 22:18
58. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R, at 22:55
59. Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water, at 23:03
60. Stefano Zanini (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 24:45
61. Davide Bramati (I), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 24:51
62. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC, at 24:58
63. Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA, at 27:06
64. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 27:07
65. Lilian Jegou (F), Credit Agricole, at 27:22
66. Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo, at 28:02
67. Mickael Pichon (F), FDJeux.com, at 31:44
68. Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 32:14
69. Nicola Gavazzi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 33:02
70. Dario Pieri (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 34:31
71. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 51:07
72. Thierry Marichal (B), Lotto Domo, at 53:25
73. Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water, at 53:36
74. Julian Dean (NZ), CSC, at 57:08
75. Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 57:52
76. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto Domo, at 1:00:53
77. Jacky Durand (F), FDJeux.com, at 1:01:18
78. Jakob Piil (Dk), CSC, at 1:02:28

SA Lotteries Sprints classification
1. Andrea Tafi (I), CSC 34 pts
2. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com 22
3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R 16
4. Giampaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski 14
5. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport 12
6. Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo 12
7. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA 12
8. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA 12
9. Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com 12
10. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole 10
11. Andy Flickinger (F), Ag2R 8
12. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2R 8
13. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo 6
14. Stefen Wesemann (G), Telekom 6
15. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski 4
16. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom 4
17. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R 4
18. Cedric Herve (F), Credit Agricole 4
19. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon 4
20. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R 4
21. Jens Voigt (G), Credit Agricole 4
22. Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water 4
23. Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA 2
24. Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA 2

Laubman & Pank King of the Mountain classification
1. Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom 44 pts
2. Lennie Kristensen (Dk), CSC 44
3. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo 36
4. Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski 22
5. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA 16
6. Glenn d'Hollander (B), Lotto Domo 16
7. Andy Flickinger (F), Ag2R 16
8. Giampaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski 12
9. Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R 12
10. Gert Steegmans (B), Lotto Domo 12
11. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport 8
12. Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport 8
13. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski 6
14. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R 6
15. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon 6
16. Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com 6
17. Regis Lhuillier (F), FDJeux.com 6

Share the Road U23 rider classification
1. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA , 17:18:30
2. Dirk Reichl (G), Telekom, at 6:56
3. Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water, at 11:30
4. Bernhard Eisel (A), FDJeux.com, at 11:38
5. Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water, at 13:02
6. Stefan Schumacher (G), Telekom, at 16:08
7. David Betts (Aus), United Water, at 17:50
8. Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water, at 22:18
9. Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo, at 27:17
10. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 50:22
11. Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 57:07

Century 21 Most aggressive rider
1. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom

Tanya Denver award for Best South Australian rider on GC
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole

Monroe Teams classification
1. ONCE-Eroski, 51:54:22
2. Team Telekom, at 0:12
3. Ag2r Prevoyance, at 0:18
4. Credit Agricole, at 0:27
5. UniSA, at 0:32
6. Quick Step-Davitamon, at 0:40
7. Team CSC, at 4:08
8. Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 9:53
9. Lotto-Domo, at 16:29
10. FDJeux.com, at 25:24
11. Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo, at 30:14
12. United Water, at 31:23