Meyer Enjoys Safe Start to Tour Down Under

WAIS cyclist Cam Meyer has finished in the main bunch sprint at the culmination of stage one of the 2009 Tour Down Under in Adelaide.

Riding for Garmin Slipstream-USA, Meyer completed stage one in extreme heat, over coming some difficult climbs and two sprints.

Defending champion Andre Greipel (Team Columbia) claimed the stage victory, whilst seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong negotiated his first competitive stage since returning to the Pro-Tour safely towards the back of the field.

The major talking point of day one came in the final sprint as Australian Robbie McEwan injured his arm after being struck by an over-zealous photographer reaching over the barrier, he was taken to hospital and cleared of any broken bones, but it is unknown if he will be fit to continue.

Meyer felt he was in good shape at the end of a trying first stage.

“It was not that hard a day, it was so hot and I think everyone was a bit weary to go out there and do a lot of work so I am happy. I finished in a bunch sprint and that is what we wanted. Tomorrow is a hard day so we will have a bit more of a crack,” said Meyer.

Legendary US cyclist Lance Armstrong held a slightly different view.

“They told me this was an easy one [stage]. But it was not as easy as they told me,” said Armstrong.

Robbie McEwan was understandably aggrieved after returning from hospital following an incident near the finish line.

“I was not all that close to the barriers but when I started my sprint and had just changed into the biggest gear to really make my final sprint for the line some genius in the crowd decided they wanted to get an action photo and reached right out over the barriers with a really big camera. I saw it and I just couldn’t do anything, it was impossible to avoid and it hit me straight on the (right) forearm. It’s broken the skin and I have a wound in the shape of the camera lens,” said McEwan.

The second stage of the 2009 Tour Down Under will continue on Wednesday January 21.