Shonak: It's allways better trying to go for the win, than to fight for secondary placings, so today's stage was a great one for Salvatore indeed

Ian Butler: I know! This early in the season and Salvatore has already earned himself his first World Tour win of the season

mvhoogdalem: Indeed, a GC win down here will pay off massively for Salvatore. But it will be a difficult task to do so...

admirschleck: Yes, apparently nobody wants to go off at that climb. Seen that before... Strange indeed, but wonderful for Salvatore

sutty: Thanks!

Pre-Tactics
I'm in the leader's jersey! It will be special to hit the tarmac today as the main figure of the race. We'll ride a hilly course today which ends uphill, so it will be a hard stage. The team will put me into position for the final kilometres and ride in the breakaways to keep my jersey, so let's hope i can perform well enough to keep it.

As per tradition i had to start at the very front with the leader's jersey on. It was quite some experience for me to wear this honorable jersey, and no doubt that i wanted to keep it for tomorrow as well. But i would have to work for it - Nothing comes freely.


Two prominent riders worthy of a breakaway managed to slip away in the morning. It was S. Casar and J. Fumeaux who got away early.


The guys from our team didn't hesitate to take the front, which happened to be the case through most of the race.


As things started to become hotter, Kolobnev and Millar broke away from the pack. With 25 kilometres to go the frontbreak had about 3 minutes to the pack, as Millar and Kolobnev's lead grew constantly.


Shortly after the split, Millar and Kolobnev got visit from 5 other riders who were trying to go for the stage win. Though one rider, namely Navardauskas, managed to get a gap in front of the others.


The gap grew too big for us and Omega Pharma - Quick Step to accept, so we gave our all to ride the escapees back into the pack.


Meanwhile Fumeaux and Casar were battling for the stage win, with Fumeaux making a final clever move before the line.


We managed to get the mid-way escapees back into the pack, as Vichot launched his final sprint up front. I was barely hanging on and really struggled to follow the other favorites to the line.


Casar seemed defeated as Fumeaux sprinted towards the line. The young Swiss therefore took the greatest victory of his career by winning his first World Tour stage here in Australia.


Vichot finalized the podium and took the valuable bonus second on the line. Thankfully i managed to stay with the favorites in the end and rode into 7th place. Edvald Boasson also finished within the pack.

It was an incredibly difficult stage without any breaks, therefore i'm so happy to keep the jersey for at least one more day. Casar got close in the end, but i couldn't really think about him in the final. I was simply struggling too much to keep my thoughts on the front breakaway.

Tomorrows stage seems to be one for the sprinters and therefore we'll try to go for the win with Edvald. If i'm also going to participate in his leadout am i not aware of now, so that'll be the DS's decision.

Pre-Tactics
We'll ride for Edvald today, hoping for him to take the stage victory in a sprint. My part will be to stay quiet and use as little effort as possible, with an eye for tomorrows decisive stage at Willunga hill.

Today's breakaway consisted of five riders, being more or less no threat to the general classification. The riders were J. Le Bon, K. Koren, G. Izagirre, J. McCarthy and A. Kuschynski.


Together with Quickstep, we controlled the breakaway all day long. Especially Davison and Bellis did a great job for our team.


With 40 kilometres to go, Quickstep overtook the front alone and drew the pace up high. If it was because of the light cross-winds or just to ensure the breakaway being caught, we didn't know why. But nonetheless everybody got a bit nervous and got onto their marks.


Soon the breakaway knew they were doomed due to Quickstep's insane pace. So with 18 kilometres to go, everyone was gathered.


Going into the final 10 kilometres a big crash occured in the back of the pack. Among the riders falling down were stage favorites Ponzi, Belletti and Bonnet, but also overall 8th Visconti went down. Visconti though managed to get back into the pack before the finish line.


The preparation for the sprint had begun with Vacansoleil, BMC and Sky leading out the pace. Jonathan Bellis was ordered to bring me to the front so i could stay out of trouble, and he did a great job.


Right before the five-kilometre port, the Sky train led out by Sutton and Swift flew past both Vacansoleil's and BMC's train with Edvald placed in the best possible position for the sprint.


The other teams didn't fought to get up alongside our train, and just seemed to accept that we've brought a great team for Australia.


Swift launched off as the first one with Trentin and Edvald placed comfortably in his wheel. Was it time for revenge for Edvald?


On the final metres Trentin fired off Edvald from the front. He now had to finish this on his own. Both Gallopin and Debusschere seemed close.


But what!? Out of nowhere Meersman comes flying past both Debusschere, Gallopin and Edvald. He had been hiding behind the others, waiting for the perfect moment to go past them all. What a superb and very tactical win! Poor Edvald becomes second once again after Meersman, with Gallopin rounding off the podium today.

It was a quiet day for me, even though things got tough in the end. I've been saving as much energy as possible through the day, and the guys were kind to bring me all the food and water i needed. Therefore there'll be no excuses for tomorrows fight at Willunga hill.

Another day in the leader's jersey is amazing, but it would be so extremely satisfying to bring home the general classification tomorrow. I'll do my very best to make that happen!

Pre-Tactics
We're ready for the big final fight at Willunga Hill. Predictably the general classification will be settled at the end of the hill, so everybody will have their nerves on the outside of their clothes. I'm most concerned of what Meersman will try to do, but thankfully i'll get full support from the team, and even Edvald, who's currently in 4th overall, told me that he'll take the front if necessary.

A relatively strong breakaway got away at the start of the stage. It was N. Haas, E. Petrov, M. Burghardt, A. Hansen and A. Dyachenko, with Burghardt being the biggest threat in the general classification.


As usual both Quickstep and Sky got onto the front to control the gap, but today also with FDJ who had objectives for overall 3rd, Casar.


All day long i was protected well by the guys who brought me food and water in the strong sunlight. Edvald stayed close to me all the time and really helped me in staying focussed and on my marks.


Nearing the final 50 kilometres, cross-winds started to occur at the seaside. Together with the increased pace, i felt very lucky to be at the front when the pack began stretching out wide.


The first attacks on the general classification came from P. Martens and V. Kiryienka. Although of some powerfull accelerations, none of them got away do to the massive pace towards Willunga Hill.


On the first ascend of the Willunga Hill, M. Marcato and A. Kolobnev got away. The time differences were now so small that they managed to catch the breakaway when going full speed uphill.


But on the top of the climb everything was gathered again. Together with Edvald and Matteo, i kept myself at the very front, because we knew that somebody would try to attack on the downhill section.


As predicted, many riders tried to get away on the downhill section. Surprisingly also overall 2nd, Meersman, tried to get away.


But we dragged all the escapees back into the pack again. Next favorite to try his luck was J. Bakelandts who was trying to get loose before the final ascend of the Willunga Hill.


But neither did he manage to get away on the flat section. Swift and Sutton managed to get back into the front and immediately helped Trentin and Edvald to pace the pack. Five kilometres to go...


In the final corner Trentin dropped back and Edvald took over the front with me behind. The final ascend towards the finishline had started.


Immediately Casar, Santaromita and Gallopin attacked from the front. Edvald had warned me about this situation, so i held onto our plan and stayed cool, with Edvald slowly dragging them back again.


On the final kilometer Meersman attacked on the left side of the pack. Edvald turn out and i went straight after Meersman. Of all riders in the pack, i didn't want Meersman to gain a gap on me.


I closed the gap and the front of pack stagnated for a second. Kessiakoff and Dumolin wanted to exploit the chance of getting away, and attacked in the left side of the road towards the finishline.


I tried my best to get in the wheel of Kessiakoff. He seemed very strong and i struggled to hang on. On my way towards him i saw Meersman showing signs of exhaustion as he fell back a little.


But in the end Kessiakoff and i couldn't keep up the pace, as Ulissi and Visconti came fast. Ulissi becomes the proud winner of the stage in front of Kessiakoff and Visconti. I take the 5th place as my main rival for the general classification, Gianni Meersman, takes 6th place!

I'm very unsure of what this means for my chances for the general classification. Did i just secure the first overall stage-race victory in my career? Or is it too early to say? When getting past the finishline with Meersman behind me, we all celebrated and cheered as if i had already won it all. It all seems so very unrealistic at the moment.

But what i know for a fact is that one stage remains of the Santos Tour Down Under. I have to keep myself very focussed through the whole stage, and for god sake, do not crash Salvatore!

admirschleck: He is so close now, so i'd say that only a crash can prevent him from winning his first World Tour stage-race. It would be a huge achievement for him

sutty: Indeed, let's hope so!

Pre-Tactics
We're here for the final day in Australia. A short criterium ride of 90 kilometres will decide whether i am going to be the winner of the 2013 edition of the Santos Tour Down Under. Edvald wants the stage win so bad, therefore we'll ride for him. My plan? Do Not Crash!

I was surprised by the staff this morning when my soigneur handed me a small bag. Within the bag was an aero helmet, jerseys, shorts, gloves and socks, all coloured in the same ochre colour as the leader's jersey. I was stunned, right until i got out of the bus, noticing that they had also custom painted a bike for me! No wonder all the guys kept calling me carrot all morning long. What a fabulous surprise!


A big breakaway got away early. Too big infact! We had to work very hard to keep them within an acceptable distance if we wanted a sprint.


We had to work all alone in the front, since the other teams probably wanted to exhaust us before the final laps. A dangerous waiting game for them, but positive since i got to show off my new equipment.


As the race developed, the other teams knew that we couldn't drag the breakaway back on our own. Teams therefore came to help us eventually, before it was too late to get back on track.


The pace upped significantly when Lotto, Quickstep and BMC came to help. Immediately the peloton got stretched out wide.


Before even realising it, the breakaway was back in the pack due to the heavy pace. There now remained 16 kilometres.


Crash! I heard the terrible whistling sound of brakes hitting carbon wheels hard. The only noise i didn't want to hear today! The crash occured right behind me as one of the favorites for todays stage, Kris Boeckmans, hit the ground. Although there only remained 10 kilometres, it was a huge reminder to keep being focussed.


If your biggest fear is to hit the tarmac, the safest place in the pack is at the very front! With Swift, Trentin and Boasson in my wheel i gave my all for the final kilometres, towards a possible GC win.


I did my job! I turned out and Swift overtook the front. The only thing i had to do now was to keep myself on the bike...


Trentin now took the front with Boasson right in his wheel, ready to fire off towards the final hundreds of metres for the finishline.


It seem as though we've seen this scenario before. Meersman got really close in the end, with Gavazzi also keeping a good pace.


The victory was to be settled between the three of these guys. At stage 1 and 4, Meersman drew the longest straw in front of Edvald, but how would it go this time with Edvald being more motivated than ever?


What a win! In the end Edvald was finally a cut above Meersman and took a well deserved win. Along the cheering crowd i rode over the finishline in 46th position, knowing that i had just achieved one of the greatest victories of my career. What a day, what a week!

I can't believe i've done this! Standing on the top of the podium will never get boring, especially not if it's after a hard week of work. I did never in my wildest fantasies dream that i would win the very first race i would race this season, and especially not a world Tour race! Although the startlist could've been quite stronger, then i'm sure that i've done a great work of winter training, when being able to take the win here in Australia.

I'm going to enjoy my win for some time now before going on with the season. January is over soon and we'll head for February where i'll have a couple of races in the end of the month. I'm not looking very much forward to get away from these sunny and warm conditions, but the races are in Europe, so there's not much to do about that.

Shonak: Thanks, Edvald finally timed his sprint perfectly and took home our second win of the race! That was just an extra bonus on such a great day

Ian: Yeah, it's quite some way to start off the season

Sutty: Must be because of his new equipment Santos TDU win is a huge result on his list, and surely many teams will be interested to sign him in the end of the season if he keeps going this way

Ollfardh: Indeed a great start!

Krisa: A race is a race, a win is a win.

January has been a spectacular month for the team and especially me. I came to Australia with light ambitions and small hopes. But when i first got going, everything culminated to the better. I won my first World Tour race and a fabulous stage win. Some critics have been saying it was a weak and young startlist for a World Tour race to have, but that doesn't change how i feel about it. To me it was a great win!


Not surprisingly i'm now sitting at the top of the table in the World Tour rankings. Last year i finished my season off with 117 points - We're in January 2013 now, and i've already got 107 points! Things seems to have started very well for me and the team, who also has taken the lead in the team rankings in front of Omega Pharma - Quickstep.


Due to his stage wins and the overall second in the Santos Tour Down Under, Gianni Meersman managed to get in front of me in the CQ-rankings with a few points difference. I'm occupying second place with Edvald right behind me. Sky is though seated in first among the teams.


In the upcoming month i'll be racing the Volta ao Algarve, GP di Lugano and Le Samyn. It will be warm-up races for the Paris-Nice in March, but my DS has told me that i may get a shot to go for the lead in the GP di Lugano. We'll see when that time arrives. Now there's nothing to do but train, train and train, but with such a win from Australia in my bag, it brings me a lot of motivation for the training.


As per usual i'll choose a "team-mate of the month" for this month also. My choice has fallen on Ben Swift. Ben was in the lineup for our TDU roster and was ment to have chances alongside Edvald in the sprints. But due to my chances in the general classification, he was degrated to helper and pulled in front of the pack for many kilometres. Such team spirit has to be rewarded, so here's my tribute to Ben.