Jacob's Creek Tour down Under 2001 Reports
Hot reception for French Teams The three French international cycling teams of AG2r Decathlon, Big Mat Point P and Credit Agricole arrive in Adelaide tomorrow to begin preparation for the 2001 Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under.
Local cycling star, Stuart O’Grady, who has been in Australia for some weeks now will not be available to welcome his Credit Agricole team mates as he is currently competing on the national circuit along with fellow rider Magnus Backstedt, "the big Swede."
According to Race Director, Mike Turtur, Credit Agricole has a lot at stake in this year’s Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under. Once again, the pressure will be on O’Grady as the ‘local favourite.’ However, the Tour is going to be very much a sprinter’s race so he will have much to contend with in the form of other star sprinters such as Steel (Mapei) and Kirsipuu (AG2r) - it’s going to make it interesting to say the least. AG2r Decathlon includes last years Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under winner, Gilles Maignan and was

also the overall winning team. Fellow AG2r rider, Jaan Kirsipuu arrived in Adelaide last week for some vital pre race aclimatisation and this may well give him a winning edge. Kirsipuu wore the yellow jersey for 5 days in the 1999 Tour de France and collected a stage win. He has also had Stage wins in 1999 Paris-Nice and Tours of Sweden, Poland & Luxembourg. With more than 70 career wins to his credit Kirsipuu has the talent to challenge for the overall honours in this year’s Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under. Along with the riders arriving today, the Big Mat Point P team will also feature South Australians Jay Sweet and Patrick Jonker. Big Mat is a Tour de France regular and with the team coming up against fellow French teams Credit Agricole and AG2R, Big Mat Point P will be ready for a fight. All three teams will want to return to France for the 2001 European season with something to have up their sleeves on their home rivals.

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