The final stage. A sprint finish? Or will that climb so close to the finish favour a break?
The 6 man break:
Imhof,
Matteau,
Wohler,
Busche,
Mortenson &
Liu
20 KM to go: Break @ 1'30.
With
Alpina - Avianca and
ONCE-Eroski Cycling Team setting pace the peloton can easily make the gap to the break with the final climb approaching.
10 KM to go: Break @ 1'20.
With the same teams on the front, once we hit the climb, no inroads are made into the break's advantage.
Indeed the gap to the breakaway starts to grow outwards as
Busche sets a real strong tempo. One by one .....
...
Busche drops the rest of the break. He would summit the final climb first, ending any hope of
Wohler taking the KOM jersey here.
Surely it is plain sailing for
Busche. With under 10 KM to go, and a descent all the way to the finish, he has over 1'40 over the peloton.
Matteau is the next over the top, '20 behind, but losing time on the American.
The peloton, pretty much all together, traverse the final climb knowing only minor positions are up for grabs today. This doesn't stop
Haas and
Sarabia attacking. Though to no avail.
One of the stars of this race,
Makino, would also try his luck on the descent as only two riders survive from the break. Again, nothing doing.
Victory for
Busche on the final stage of the Herald Sun Tour. He really showed his prowess on the final hill today, the domestiques of the sprinter teams didn't have an answer. All three pro-conti teams have had a decent outing here, with two taking home a stage victory.
Matteau would be the other breakaway rider to hold off the peloton today, coming home for a respectable second place.
Securing the points jersey, in style, it is a comfortable third place from
Geschke as he wins his second bunch sprint here.
Forero was the closest challenger, but a ways back in the end, as the final hill took its toll on many of the quick men.
Mendes wins the Herald Sun Tour, the GC much unchanged on the final stage.
