Oppy’s Grand Tour Diary

‘Oppy’ the character kangaroo has hopped over to join the Tour de France. ‘Oppy-roo’ is embarking on his first Grand Tour but is following the wheel of legendary Australian cyclist Sir Hubert ‘Oppy’ Opperman who contested ‘le Tour’ in 1928 and 1931.  ‘Oppy-roo’ has joined the Publicity Caravan which travels in front of the race each day and to promote the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under and South Australia to the millions of fans who line the race route.

‘Oppy’s Grand Tour Diary’ will keep you up to date with all the news and gossip and provides a unique and unusual perspective on the world’s greatest bike race. Oppy's latest entry can be found here.

South Australia on show to 15 million people at Tour de France

Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under director Mike Turtur, Oppy the kangaroo and South Australia Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith Photo ©: Brett Sheridan

Oppy the kangaroo Photo ©: Brett Sheridan

Oppy rides out Photo ©: Brett Sheridan

For the first time, South Australia and the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will be promoted to up to 15 million cycling fans at this year's Tour de France in July. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says it will be the biggest ever promotion of our State at the world-famous road cycling race.

Today, Minister Lomax-Smith has unveiled the central character of the promotion - a bicycle riding kangaroo character nicknamed 'Oppy'.

'Oppy' - named after internationally acclaimed Australian cyclist and politician Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman - will be wearing a Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under racing jersey.

"People from around the world line the streets of France in July each year for one of the world's largest and most well-known cycling races," she says.

"It presents an unrivalled opportunity and the perfect audience to promote our State and our very own Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under.

"It will help to reinforce our position as the host of Australia's premier international cycling event. This kind of worldwide promotion is priceless to our State.

"It has been enabled through a personal invitation from Tour de France Race Director, Jean-Marie LeBlanc to take part in the pre-race parade.

"We were very privileged to have Mr LeBlanc present at this year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under and he was clearly impressed at the quality of our event and our State's attractions.

"Oppy will be perched upon a vehicle which will be part of the Tour de France 'publicity caravan' - a parade of promotional vehicles and characters that leads the race.

"The parade will be featured on Tour de France broadcasts to two billion people worldwide through 78 channels in 178 countries.

"As well, items to promote South Australia will be distributed to the millions of spectators who line the streets of France for the race.

"People will receive a mini road sign featuring an Australian kangaroo on one side and details of a competition to win a trip to South Australia in January 2006 on the other.

"This year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under had an audience of around 495,000 over the six days and, through our extensive promotional activities, we are hoping to better that next year."

'Oppy' the character kangaroo

The Tour de France publicity caravan passes through the route of the race of the Tour de France one hour before the riders. Participation in the publicity caravan offers exposure to up to 15 million fans of the event.

The Tour de France extended an invitation to the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under to attend the Tour de France as part of the publicity caravan - this invitation has been accepted.

The branding element for this project is a car in the Tour de France publicity caravan. The car will have a sculpture on top of the car of a kangaroo on a bicycle wearing a racing jersey. It has been agreed to call the kangaroo character 'Oppy' after Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman.

Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman (May 1904 - April 1996)

• Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, affectionately referred to as 'Oppy' by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acclaim.
• In 1924, at the age of 20, he won the Australian Road Cycling title as well as in 1926, 1927 and 1929.
• In 1928 he won the prestigious Bol d'Or 24-hour classic at a 500m velodrome in Paris. He won the race by a margin of 30 minutes to the cheers of 50,000 French citizens yelling "allez Oppy". He received a hero's welcome when he returned to Melbourne later that year.
• He was voted Europe's most popular sportsman in 1928 by more than 500,000 readers of the French sporting journal L'Auto, ahead of their own national tennis champion Henri Cochet.
• He won the 1931 non stop Paris-Brest-Paris tour (726 miles, 1166 kilometres) breaking all previous records over the distance in the time of 49 hours 23 minutes. After this win he was idolised in the French press and by the French public.
• His participation and captaincy of the Australian teams in the Tour de France in 1928 and 1931 set an example for later Australian riders to follow including Phil Anderson, Stuart O'Grady, Robbie McEwen and Baden Cooke.
• In 1940 Opperman set more than 100 distance records in a 24 hour cycling marathon at a Sydney velodrome. Many of his distance records were not broken until decades later.
• His cycling career came to an end with World War II when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force and rose to the level of Flight Lieutenant. After the war he began a career in politics.

Event Facts

• South Australia and the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will be represented in the 2005 Tour de France Publicity Caravan.
• The Tour de France Publicity Caravan is a procession stretching around five kilometres.
• The South Australia/Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under car in the Publicity Caravan will be one of 200 decorated and animated vehicles.
• This opportunity presents 21 days of direct contact with the 15 million fans lining the race route to cheer on their international cycling heroes.
• We will be promoting South Australia as a cycling tourism destination along 3,500 kms of race.
• In total, 11 million gifts will be distributed by cars in the parade, 110,000 by us.
• An estimated 495,000 spectators attended the 2005 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under.
• 11,670 event specific international and national visitors attended the event.
• The Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under generated an economic benefit to the State of at least $13.2M.
• The 2006 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will be held 17 - 22 January 2006.

Stage 6 - January 23: Adelaide City Council Circuit, 81 km

McEwen adds another stage win as Liberty Seguros celebrate overall win for Sanchez

23rd January, 2005

Robbie McEwen (Davitomon-Lotto)
Photo ©: CN

Spaniard Luis Sanchez, 21, (Liberty Seguros) has taken out overall honours in the 2005 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under as Queensland's Robbie McEwen sealed another stage victory and the SA Lotteries Sprint classification in the final 81km stage on the Adelaide City Council Circuit.

Liberty Seguros also secured second and fifth overall through Bundaberg cyclist Allan Davis who finished 33 seconds behind his teammate, with Spaniard Javier Ramirez at 50 seconds, plus Sanchez was named Share the Road Best Young Rider (U23) and the Spanish registered Pro-Tour team scored the Sensational Adelaide Leading Team trophy.

South Australian Gene Bates (UniSA) claimed the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain jersey and local hero Stuart O'Grady was presented with the Tanya Denver Memorial Award as the highest placed South Australian overall with his third place, 47 seconds behind Sanchez.

An estimated 435,000 fans supported the race this year from the opening stage in Adelaide's East End through the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Glenelg bay side to Victor Harbor beach side, McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula, to today's finale. The final stage covered 18 laps of a 4.5km course around the picturesque Adelaide City parklands and River Torrens foreshore with an estimated 65,000 turning out in perfect weather to support the riders.

Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Liberty Seguros)
Photo ©: CN

"The truth is I was going really well, but the team was going even better," said Sanchez who took over the lead after victory in the third stage. "They had it under control in every moment and the win is thanks to them.

"I knew I'd prepared well, I knew I could do well, but I really didn't think about the overall victory," said Sanchez who is hopeful of making his Tour de France debut this year. "I not only surprised myself, but the team was surprising how strong it was.

"The truth is, I was really nervous (today) - you all know on an urban circuit if they go really fast, anything can happen," he said. "It's a beautiful race and I've been really surprised, in a nice sense, of how well the race is organised and the support from the public."

Several people have talked of Sanchez as the next 'Miguel Indurain' (five time winner of the Tour de France) but the young champion is humbled by the suggestion. "I would love and dream to have half the quality and capability that he had," said Sanchez.

Meantime McEwen was thrilled to notch up his eleventh Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under victory and his third of this year's event. "I love a sprint, I love a final sprint, and I love the last stage in Adelaide," said McEwen "It's a course that I really love, the crowd's fantastic and my teammates worked really hard and I love being able to repay them - it's just great.

The sprint
Photo ©: CN

"When you come around the final corner and into the home straight, it's like riding into the middle of a grand final," said McEwen the reigning Tour de France sprint champion. "Everybody is clambering over each other to get a look at the finish and cheering, it's a great atmosphere."

McEwen, who won stages one and two of this year's race, had held the overall lead until missing the break on stage three to Victor Harbor. "I only put one foot wrong all week (when I) missed the break," said McEwen before predicting Davis as the Australian sprint star of the future.

"Allan is still is very young and has a lot of potential to get even better," said McEwen. "When he keeps working like he has been, he's going to keep improving and become stronger. I would say when I eventually stop, not that I'm thinking about stopping, Allan will be the man then."

Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros)
Photo ©: CN

Davis was disappointed but philosophical about placing third today. "I would have loved to get a win today in that last stage, but the team won and that was the main thing first and second overall is not too bad," said Davis. "I don't know how many top fives I've had this week, it just would have been nice to get that No.1 spot.

"Full credit to Robbie today, he was too good in the last couple of metres," he said. "He's just got a bit more top-end speed than myself and maybe I will get faster as I get older or I will get slower and climb better, but at the moment that's how it is.

"I aspire to Robbie - Robbie and Stuey (O'Grady) are still my idols, they were as a young rider coming through, (along with) Henk Vogels, Stevo (Neil Stephens), all those Aussies.," said 24 year old Davis who was fifth at last year's World Championships road race in Italy. "I respect them immensely and I see Robbie as the goal (benchmark)."

Whilst Sanchez went into the race with a significant leading margin over his team mate Davis the fact the stage victory, Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain and SA Lotteries Sprint jerseys were still up for grabs meant there was no rest for the world class field.

The peloton
Photo ©: CN

The first intermediate sprint at the end of lap eight was a furious affair but McEwen was indefatigable claiming the maximum points ahead of fellow Australian Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros) with Javier Ramirez, also of Liberty Seguros third.

The first King of the Mountain up Montefiore Hill (42km) saw the climbers come out of the bunch as South Australian Gene Bates headed over the summit first to increase his lead in that classification with Olympic road race silver medallist Sergio Paulinho (POR - Liberty Seguros) second and Irish champion David O'Loughlin (Navigators) third.

A break then headed down the road nullifying the second intermediate sprint at the end of lap 12 at 54km, as Australian David Betts (United Water) rolled across first, Steve Cunningham (AUS - UniSA) second and Irishman Ciaran Power (Navigators) third.

But with the climbers jersey still up for grabs the break couldn't hold off the peloton and on the second climb up Montefiore Hill (64km) Bates cemented his win in that classification ahead of O'Loughlin with Italian Fortunato Baliani (Ceramiche Panaria) third.

Liberty Seguros
Photo ©: CN

With only three laps to go the manoeuvring began as the teams jostled to set up their fast men for the final sprint home. Davitamon Lotto, for McEwen, Liberty Seguros for Davis, Francaise des Jeux for Baden Cooke and Ceramiche Panaria for Paride Grillo, all surged to the front. Then 300 metres from home it was left to the sprinters to fend for themselves at speeds approaching 50 kilometres an hour up a slight incline. O'Grady launched the attack but couldn't hold on as McEwen ran down his rivals to come home half a wheel clear in a time of 1hr45min29sec from Grillo with Davis third. Sanchez crossed safely in the main bunch celebrating the spoils of victory. His accumulated time for the 719km, six day event was 16hr45min44sec.

Australian David Betts (United Water) was awarded the daily Century 21 Most Aggressive rider jersey and O'Grady was presented with the Tanya Denver Memorial Award for the highest placed South Australian in the event.

Click here for full results, or go here to read our live coverage and view the photo gallery.

Stage 5 - January 22: Willunga to Willunga, 147m

Historic clean sweep for Liberty Seguros

22nd January, 2005

Sanchez and Contador
Photo ©: CN

It was an historic finish to stage five of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under when the Spanish registered Liberty Seguros team claimed the first four placings across the line after the 147 kilometre stage from Willunga to Willunga, taking in South Australia's picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula.

It was Spaniard Alberto Contador who scored a fairytale win crossing the line in 3hr17min51sec in his first race back from serious surgery. Alongside was his team mate and race leader Luis Sanchez and close behind Queensland's Allan Davis (at 22 seconds) and a fourth Liberty rider in Javier Ramirez (at 25 seconds).

In May last year 22 year old Contador suffered a brain aneurism causing a seizure during a race in Spain. While waiting to undergo tests he suffered another seizure and doctors decided to operate to alleviate the pressure on his brain. "Not only was my racing career in danger but also my life," said Contador after the stage. "It (today's win) is an incredible moment."

Contador was given the all clear by doctors in November and whilst he still undergoes regular check ups he has been training hard since then for his Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under appearance. "This stage win I dedicate to the team, which has been formidable in its support of me," said Contador who sports a scar from temple to temple as a permanent reminder. "Also my family who have suffered a lot during this."

It was Liberty's day
Photo ©: CN

The victory was emotional as Sanchez, whom he has known for many years, was adamant Contador should take the stage win gesturing to him and applauding him as the pair approached the finish. "We've got a great relationship and have been together since we were amateurs," said Contador. "He was clear I was going to win the stage and it was thanks to Luis' strength and force that I was able to win today."

It was a great finish to an exciting stage which began with 21 riders separated by only 34 seconds and six within 20 seconds of Sanchez's lead and viewed by a estimated 95 thousand fans who turned out to enjoy the top class cycling action under sunny skies.

Attacks were fast and furious with sprint star and former race leader Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) in an early break. But they were reeled in and by the first intermediate sprint at Snapper Point at 58.8km it was all together as the main contenders jostled for the valuable bonus seconds on offer. McEwen, the Tour de France green jersey champion had other ideas in his bid for more points towards his lead in the SA Lotteries sprint classification and capitalised on the work of rival team Ceramiche Panaria to snatch the maximum points with Allan Davis claiming a two second bonus ahead of Paride Grillo (Panaria) third for a one second bonus.

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto)
Photo ©: CN

The attacks continued as they completed the second lap around the McLaren Vale wine growing region and this time McEwen, along with Hilton Clarke (Navigators) managed to steal away. The second sprint at Snapper Point (100km) again went to McEwen. The Queenslander now holds a 14 point lead in the sprint competition and is well on his way to his third Tour sprint crown.

After the sprints were out of the way it was time for the main contenders to come out to play and the record pace showed no sign of easing.

As the race hit the climb up Old Willunga Hill world time trial champion Michael Rogers and Ramirez surged ahead but did not stay clear. Second placed overall Johan Van Summeren then tried his luck but Sanchez was having none of it and glued himself to his Belgian rival. Contador came through to lead the trio over the climb and then Van Summeren had no answer as Sanchez and Contador pounced after the summit and opened up a handy margin.

The pair powered towards home as those vying for the top placings overall scrambled to reel them in. But the pair proved too strong and a joyous Contador led home the Liberty Seguros winning procession.

Michael Rogers (Quick.Step)
Photo ©: CN

Overall Sanchez (15hr00min15sec) now has a 35 second lead over Davis with South Australian Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) third at 47 seconds, Van Summeren fourth at 48 seconds and Ramirez fifth at 51 seconds giving Liberty three in the top five. And their assault on victory isn't over yet with Sanchez vowing to help Davis in tomorrow's final stage, an 81km (18 laps of 4.5km circuit) race around the Adelaide City Parklands and the River Torrens foreshore.

"We have one of the best sprinter's in the world with us so it would be great if he could get the win," said Sanchez. "There's a little bit less pressure (now his lead has increased) but Allan would like to take out the stage win tomorrow in Adelaide and we're going to work with him as well."

The SA Lotteries sprint classification is firmly in McEwen's keeping, Gene Bates has the lead in the Laubman and Pank King of The Mountain competition but is tied on points with Irish champion David O'Loughlin (Navigators). Sanchez also remains in the lead in the Share the Road Under 23 category and Australian Michael Rogers (Quickstep) was awarded the daily Century 21 Most Aggressive rider jersey. Liberty Seguros has established a commanding leading margin in the Sensational Adelaide teams classification.

Click here for the full results, live report and photo gallery.

Full results of the third and final round of The Advertiser women's criterium series, held at Snapper Point, now available.

Stage 4 - January 21: Unley to Hahndorf, 152km

Glory for unsung hero in Hahndorf

21st January, 2005

Matt White (Cofidis)
Photo ©: CN

One of cycling's unsung heroes today scored victory in the fourth stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under when Matt White, 30, cruised across the finish line in Hahndorf with his arms raised in celebration.

White, who is married to and coaches Olympic walk medallist Jane Saville, is the faithful lieutenant of Tour de France and World Cup star Stuart O'Grady in the French registered professional team Cofidis and last year was unlucky to crash just hours before the start preventing his scheduled Tour de France debut. But today was White's day of glory and he admits it was a long time coming.

"About time," said White whose last international win was six years ago in the Tour of Switzerland. "Six years I've waited for that and I'm pretty bloody happy!"

White engineered his victory by breaking away from the lead group of six riders four kilometres from the finish line. He crossed the line in a time of 3hr35min00sec after the 152 kilometre ride from Adelaide's cafe suburb of Unley. Tour de France sprint star, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) was next across line two seconds later with Frenchman Sebastien Joly (Credit Agricole) third.

"I knew what the last climb was like...that's the best time to go, if I can get a bit of a gap over there (I can do it)," said White.

White's margin at the finish would have been greater but his excitement was such that he was savouring the win as he rode over the final 300 metres in front of an appreciative crowd as his rivals began a furious sprint for the minor placings.

The peloton
Photo ©: CN

Stage Four was eventful from the gun with riders on the attack from the moment the flag dropped at the climb up the expressway towards Stirling. But despite repeated efforts no lead group was established and all the main contenders were together for the first intermediate sprint at the 28.3 km in Echunga.

Ceramiche Panaria provided the perfect lead out for Italy's Paride Grillo who picked up a valuable three second bonus to move him up one place on the overall standings ahead of Australian Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros). Olympic track gold medallist Stuart O'Grady sprinted across for a two second bonus and dual Olympic gold medallist Graeme Brown picked up third place.

More attacks were launched after the first sprint but it wasn't until the 50 kilometre mark that a group of six riders finally managed to ride away from the peloton and establish a significant margin. In that group was the winner of stages one and two, McEwen, White (Cofidis), Nicolas Portal (AG2R), Italian Fortunato Baliani (Panaria), Joly and Frederic Finot (FRA Francaise des Jeux)

Fortunato Baliani (Panaria)
Photo ©: CN

By the time they reached the bottom of the only categorised climb of the day at Checker Hill ( 86.6km) they had a lead of more than three minutes and over the summit it was Baliani first, Portal second and White third.

The six in front continued to increase their lead and by the second intermediate sprint at Woodside (119km) were more than five minutes ahead. McEwen took the maximum points ahead of White with Baliani third.

With the major players together in the main field and the front six no threat to the overall standings the mind games then began in the front group as the riders set themselves up for the final sprint in Hahndorf.

"I'm not going to sprint against Robbie...I couldn't beat him down a mineshaft," said White who was heartily congratulated by O'Grady after the stage. "Stuey knows how good I am...I helped him win a World Cup with one arm tied behind my back.

Matt White (Cofidis)
Photo ©: CN

"I'm a good bike rider, I know that and so do the boys," he said. "It's my job to help those guys out - I've been kept professional for 10 years and it's not because of luck, that's for sure. To ride with (Lance) Armstrong and win Tour of Switzerland, to ride with (Roberto) Heras and win the Tour of Spain and to (help) Stuey win the World Cup, they're all big feats - but for me to win here at home, I'm rapt."

White says he had planned to try for a victory this year in the Tour. "I thought I'd have a crack for a stage here with the form I've got, it's always good when you've got the Tour of Spain in your legs at the end the year, the form comes back pretty quick," he explained. "I looked after myself over the winter (Australian summer) and limited the old drinking to the weekends.

White will now concentrate on working for O'Grady who is currently lying fifth overall, 18 seconds off race leader Luis Sanchez of Spain (Liberty Seguros). "The Tour hasn't finished yet - Stuey has got good form," said White. "It's going to be hard to beat the Spanish guys, but we're going to go out with a fight, that's for sure.

White believes the Tour will come down to bonus seconds on offer in the intermediate and finish sprints but first the main contenders have to make it through tomorrow's 147 kilometre stage which starts and finishes in Willunga in the McLaren Vale wine growing region.

"The problem is Al Davis (Liberty Seguros and sitting fourth at 13 seconds) is bloody quick, just as quick as Stuey," said White. "If we don't drop his team-mate (Sanchez) tomorrow, which I don't think we will, we're going to have to try to attack at the finish but I think it's going to come down to time bonuses on Sunday."

Davis and his team mate Sanchez will be out to ensure they match every move. "It's going to be a hard day tomorrow up that Willunga climb, there's going to be a lot of action," said Davis. "Hopefully the boys have got enough gas in the tank to hold them off."

Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros)
Photo ©: CN

But Davis took time out to express his pleasure with White's win. "Whitey - I've got goose bumps thinking he's won, because there's not another guy in the peloton ...that deserves the win (more)," he said.

The main field, containing all the main contenders, was led home by Bathurst cyclist Mark Renshaw (Francaise des Jeux) 3m42sec behind White.

Overall Sanchez has maintained his two second lead over Johan Van Summeren (BEL - Davitamon Lotto) with Italy's Paride Grillo (Ceramiche Panaria) now third at 12 seconds. Davis and O'Grady are fourth and fifth and South Australian Gene Bates (UniSA) is sixth at 20 seconds.

The lead in the SA Lotteries sprint classification has been reclaimed by McEwen, Bates still leads the Laubman and Pank King of The Mountain competition. Sanchez, 21, remains in the lead in the Share the Road Under 23 category and Joly was awarded the daily Century 21 Most Aggressive rider jersey. Credit Agricole is leading the Sensational Adelaide leading teams classification.

Click here for full results of the fourth stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, a 152 km journey between Unley (Adelaide) and Hahndorf. Also see: live report and photo gallery.

Watch the 2004 Tour

Get a taste of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under right here with a video clip of the 2004 race.

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