All the efforts by Australian sprinter Graeme Brown to shed his label as a dirty sprinter were forgotten Tuesday when he was relegated from first place in stage one of the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under.

After crossing the line first in the 50km criterium in East End Adelaide, Brown, 23, was found guilty of not holding his line in the sprint and dangerous riding.

The pro season kicks off in Oz

Photo: Graham Watson

The decision followed a 15-minute deliberation by race commisssaires following a protest by Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) who was third to finish.

McEwen’s complaint was lodged to chief race commissaire John McDonnell of New Zealand immediately after the stage, raced before a crowd estimated at 55,000.

The verdict meant the stage win was awarded to Victorian Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) who was second across the line with McEwen moving up to second.

Brown (Panaria) was also slapped a 30-second time penalty, deducted eight points for the sprinters’ competition and fined 200 Swiss francs.

While Brown is potentially a world-class road sprinter, this latest punishment is one of many that have marred his career.

However, Brown, a long time rival of McEwen’s, defended himself last night. He claimed McEwen’s attempt to pass him on his left, close to barriers, was “stupid.”

He also claimed McEwen grabbed his jersey as sped past, and accused commissaire McDonnell of being biased to the Queenslander.

“Robbie was stupid enough to come up on the left hand side when there was 20 meters to go on the other side,” said Brown. “This time I definitely know I won fair and square. He won by grabbing my jersey and slinging off me. I think that is cheating as far as I am concerned.”

“Obviously the commissaire is a Robbie fan and not a Graeme Brown fan,” he added.

Such a controversial finish to the opening leg of the 735km tour will have left already testy relations between Brown and McEwen even tenser than ever.

The two have had a fiery relationship for two years, stemming from some heated racing in the Bay Criterium Series in Victoria over the last two years.

McEwen, who also won a protest over Brown in last year’s Bay Criterium series, stood by his protest later saying:

Cooke becomes the first leader of the Tour

“The officials did their job. As far as the sprint is concerned it is a correct result. I would have liked to win but I had my sprint impeded.”

Asked if he had any comment to make regarding Brown, he simply replied: “no.”Meanwhile, Cooke, the one to profit the most from the drama by getting the win, said he would also have ensured Brown’s wrath.Cooke allied himself to McEwen, being the first to support the Tour de France green jersey winner’s protest against Brown. “There was some irregular riding around the corner,” he said.“Graeme came round in middle of road, looked right, look left, saw Robbie coming and then turned left and put him it the barriers.”

Tour Down Under Stage 1 – East End Adelaide criterium

1. Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com 50km in 1:02:20
2. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Domo
3. Luca Paolini (I) Quickstep-Davitamon
4. Julian Dean (Nzl) CSC
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp) ONCE-Eroski
6. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
7. Dirk Reichl (G) Telekom,
8. Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA
9. Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water
10. Stefano Zanini (I) Saeco-Longoni Sport, all.st.

Copyright AFP2003