
Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) still behind with metres to go. He just edged
Photo credit © Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) fell early on.
Photo credit © Bettini

Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) has a fine record at the Tour Down Under.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) earned himself a change of attire.
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) wears the king of the mountains jersey.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) pips Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD).
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) puts on the ochre jersey.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) in unfamiliar garb.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) is the overall leader.
Photo credit © Bettini

Rohan Dennis (UniSA) is best young rider.
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) did his bit in the break to take the
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) shows off the spoils.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) earned himself a jacket for his toil in
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) got his second pro season off to a
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) is in flying form this January.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) sweeps through the finish area.
Photo credit © Bettini

Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) at the feed.
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) leads the break.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) was mindful of the conditions.
Photo credit © Bettini

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) chases back on after falling.
Photo credit © Bettini

Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) in the peloton.
Photo credit © Bettini

Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) at the feed zone.
Photo credit © Bettini

Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) is looking for a big 2012.
Photo credit © Bettini

Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) takes on a bottle.
Photo credit © Bettini

Oscar Freire has joined Katusha for 2012.
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) infiltrated an early break.
Photo credit © Bettini

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) came a cropper early on.
Photo credit © Bettini

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) sets off again after falling.
Photo credit © Bettini

Photo credit © Bettini

Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) sets off after a puncture.
Photo credit © Bettini

Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) was involved in the crash that marred
Photo credit © Bettini

Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) in the peloton.
Photo credit © Bettini

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) grits his teeth.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) dive
Photo credit © Bettini

Eduard Vorgonov (Katusha) and Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) in the
Photo credit © Bettini

Eduard Vorgonov (Katusha) rides at the front of the break.
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) wins stage one of the Santos Tour Down Under
Photo credit © Bettini

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) looks across at the beaten Alessandro Petacchi
Photo credit © Bettini

Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) follows Geraint Thomas (Sky).
Photo credit © Bettini

Marcello Pavarin (Vacansoleil-DCM) on the podium as king of the mountains.
Photo credit © Bettini

The peloton race towards Clare for the first stage at this year's Tour
Photo credit © Sirrotti

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) beats Alessandro Petacchi (ILampre - ISD)
Photo credit © Sirrotti

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) makes the most of his powerful sprint
Photo credit © Sirrotti

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) leads the Tour Down Under after the first
Photo credit © Sirrotti

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) leads the Tour Down Under after the first
Photo credit © Sirrotti

Photo credit © Sirrotti

Photo credit © Sirrotti

The new RadioShack-Nissan kit in action
Photo credit © Sirrotti

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD) had to settle for second place
Photo credit © Sirrotti

The Lampre team regroup after the first sprint of the race
Photo credit © Sirrotti

The peloton ease off with a break up the road
Photo credit © Sirrotti

Photo credit © Sirrotti

Martin Kohler (BMC) was in the thick of the action early on
Photo credit © Sirrotti

The peloton race towards Clare for the first stage at this year's Tour
Photo credit © Sirrotti

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) beats Alessandro Petacchi (ILampre - ISD)
Photo credit © Sirrotti

Patriotic fans lined the roads
Photo credit © AFP

It all starts here: the road season has officially begun
Photo credit © AFP

Spectators of all kinds keep cool
Photo credit © AFP

Andre Greipel pulls on the first leader's jersey at the Tour Down Under
Photo credit © AFP

Greipel beas Petacchi in a close sprint
Photo credit © AFP

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) with his second win in a row
Photo credit © AFP

Lotto, GreedEdge and FDJ do the work on the front
Photo credit © AFP

The riders had to deal with high temperatures
Photo credit © AFP

The break of four looked dangerous at one point, with an advantage of
Photo credit © Sirotti

No celebration from Petacchi or Greipel as it was too close to call in
Photo credit © Sirotti

Andre Greipel rolls over the line. Unsure whether he's won or not.
Photo credit © Sirotti

The peloton struggled on the hot traverse from Prospect to Clare. Many
Photo credit © Sirotti

Petacchi just missed out on the stage win, a photo finish showing Greipel
Photo credit © Sirotti

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) with his teammates at the finish in Clare.
Photo credit © Sirotti

Australian fans were numerous, though some were kept away by the hot temperatures
Photo credit © Sirotti

Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) takes the kisses.
Photo credit © Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews




