It will take some time getting used to the sight, since usually it’s
Australia’s super sprinter Robbie McEwen who has a subscription to the title and therefore to the jersey with the green-yellow
stripes. If it wasn’t McEwen then there were experienced riders like Allan Davis, Baden Cooke or Stuart O’Grady
who earn their money on streets throughout Europe.
Instead it was Darren Lapthorne who was the celebrated solo winner
in Ballarat in southern Australia’s Victoria after the 200 km road race. He won with a lead of 15 seconds ahead of Robert
McLachlan, Baden Cooke finished the difficult race with a lag of almost three minutes and rank nine.
The aim of every Australian pro rider is Europe, the same goes for Darren
Lapthorne. "I want to find a strong team in Europe, maybe make it into the Tour de France or Giro d’Italia," the 25-year-old
had told his team manager. What a lucky coincidence that Scott McGrory is the manager of Lapthorne’s Team Porsche. McGrory
who was part of Dortmund’s RC Olympia in the 90’s and a successful 6-Days athlete until two years ago pulled some
strings and placed the rider from the fifth continent with Team Sparkasse. "It’s an excellent place for him, he can
race a great program and the human factor fits as well," McGrory explained his choice.
