Velits won "Pick'n Pay 94.7 Challenge"

Slovak Martin Velits led home an nine-men sprint to take the tenth annual Pick'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg, now one of the classic events on the international cycling scene.
More than 27,000 riders took part this year to the competition. A small group of 11 riders (including three Barloworld's pros: Cardenas , Cox and Perry ) attacked and jumped clear after few kilometres, and the group was no more able to join them.
In the final sprint, Colombian Felix Cardenas finished in third. The positive Barloworld's result was completed by Ryan Cox (sixth) and James Perry (nineth).

Tour Down Under announced first teams

French sprinter Jimmy Casper, 28, will race for the first time in the colours of the Unibet.com team when it makes its debut at the 2007 Tour Down Under in Adelaide.

Casper, who has posted more than 20 victories in his professional career, this year won the first stage of the Tour de France claiming the green jersey for a day before relinquishing it to eventual sprint winner, Robbie McEwen.

Joining him in the line up is fellow Tour de France rider and another former Cofidis rider, Arnaud Coyot who this year outsprinted Norwegian Thor Hushovd to win the Classic Haribo in France. The team represents a united nations of cycling with riders from France, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands along with Sweden's Gustav Larsson who this year rode in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia for Francaise des Jeux.

"My understanding is Unibet.com will be granted a ProTour licence for 2007 so we're really pleased their first race with that status is with us," said Race Director, Mike Turtur. "It's always great to welcome a new team to the Tour Down Under and to welcome back riders of the talent of Casper who raced here a few years ago when he was with the Francaise des Jeux team."

The second Belgian registered team to confirm their starting list for the Tour Down Under is Chocolade Jacques which will be led by Glenn D'Hollander, 31, who placed 10th overall in this year's Tour Down Under. Also on the team is Belgian Steven Caethoven, 25, who this year claimed a stage of the Rheinland Pfalz Tour in Germany and last year won a stage of the Tour of Belgium.

Two time Tour de France stage winner Juan Miguel Mercado, 28, will lead the Agritubel team when it makes its Tour Down Under debut in January.

The Spanish rider won the 190.5km stage ten into Pau getting into an early break and riding away in a two man attack with Cyril Dessel (AG2R - Prevoyance). Powering over the climbs he had enough left in the tank to hold of the Frenchman in the final sprint.

It was the second stage victory for Mercado, his first coming in the 2004 event. Agritubel was the only wild card team entered in the 2006 Tour de France and six members of that team are headed to Adelaide for the Tour Down Under including fellow Spaniards Alberto Martinez and Moises Duenas. Martinez this year won the Bayern Rundfahrt (Tour of Bayern) in Germany and a stage of the Criterium International while Duenas took out a stage and overall honours in the Tour de l'Avenir in France.

The team will also send young French talent Benoit Sinner, 22, who is the reigning U23 European road champion.

"We're really looking forward to welcoming Agritubel to Adelaide and I'm sure they'll be a force in the race," said Race Director, Mike Turtur. "The fact they are sending such a strong team of their top riders demonstrates how serious they are about making an impact early in the season."

Credit Agricole has also confirmed their starting list for the Tour Down Under with Russian Alexandre Botcharov again heading to Australia. The 31 year old who finished second overall behind Australian Michael Rogers in the 2002 Tour Down Under posted a second overall in the 2006 Tour de Mediterranean and was eighth in the road race at the World Championships in Salzburg.

Credit Agricole will also start New Zealander Julian Dean, 31, who performed strongly in this years Eneco Pro Tour event and in 2004 was second overall in the Tour of Britain and Australian rider Mark Renshaw. New signing Nicholas Roche, son of former Giro d'Italia and Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, will also start at the Tour Down Under.

The AG2R-Prevoyance team of defending champion Simon Gerrans has announced two changes to it's starting list. Renaud Dion (FRA) and Christophe Riblon (Fra) will be replaced by Swiss rider Martin Elmiger and Frenchman Stephane Goubert.

Team rosters for Tour Down Under 2007