I didn't pick Hayman, Sutton and Henderson simply because of their fitness, at the start of TdU it was below 50, so they wouldn't have really good results, instead they all gonna ride tour of Oman, where Hagen won't participate. Rogers will busy season ahead, trying to win ToC, and will be our main helper for Wiggins in TdU, so we don't want to race him already, he will probably start his season in february.
Stage 5, coming later, so stay tuned Edited by Alakagom on 01-02-2011 15:46
Today we begin the second last stage of this year Tour Down Under and also the hardest one. The first 90km is very flat, but then the riders must climb dreaded "Willunga Hill" twice, it lasts 3km and has a biggest gradient in this year tour with average of 7.6% Successful attack on the hill can decide the whole tour, our business is to hold the whole peloton together, for the whole time and let nobody escape on the hill. If that will turn out successful, we have a big chance of 5th stage victor from Hagen. Biggest threat to our cause will be Luca Paolini (Androni), with good hill and sprinting abilities he showed good result on stage 3, Frank Schleck, Roman Kreuziger, Chris Horner may attack so we definitely need to be cautious abut those three, and counter-attack if they go. Today we also want to secure the KOM jersey and Gerrans will attack for points on the Willunga.
Team objectives :
- Control the peleton
- Don’t let any dangerous riders break at the Willunga Hill
- Take some King of Mountains points with Gerrans and secure the jersey
- Victory with Hagen
Favourites: Boasson Hagen, Frank Schleck, Roman Kreuziger, Luca Paolini. My secret tip: Luca Paolini was already second at the only hilly stage before Willunga, if it comes to mass sprint finale he will be the only sprinter probably to challenge Hagen today.
The queen stage of this year’s tour is about to begin.
The flag is up, the cars are moving, and it’s the start of today stage.
Shortly after the start, there were as usual many attackers and the first break to go established themselves. They are Kump, Tanner, Degenkolb, Petacchi, Kadri, Perez, Duque, Hoste and Kennaugh. Pretty dangerous group, and if peloton would let them away, it’s gonna have hard time catching them. Kennaugh is there to collect bonus time on the first intermediate sprint.
And at last spectators can see some sprinting and fighting for a intermediate sprint, Degenkolb wins it, Kennaugh takes second, while Petacchi gets third.
Shortly after, the break is joined by another four riders, Oss, Mortensen, Van Winden and Sieberg.
The gap is steady, and break doesn’t increase their time gap, so Thor Hushovd, who so far doesn’t have the best opening tour, is trying to break, and he suceesfully reaches the break.
But not for long, as the break is caught by us, at the intermediate sprint, though the breakaway riders take the sprint, with Kadir finishing first, Petacchi second, and Kennaugh third.
We’ve controlled the peloton with a medium pace, nobody tried to get away, so half of our task was complete, now we start to climb the Willunga, we will try to control the peloton so no dangerous riders will have opportunity to attack.
1.5km left of climbing the first time, and so far so good, our three riders at the top-notch of the pack, nobody with an attack so far.
100 metres to go and Frank Schleck attacks, Masskant counter-attacks, we have the situation under control, so we do not attack, with this attack Schleck wins the mountain classification, Masskant coming second, and Gerrans third. As we have controlled the peloton with medium pace, the whole peloton is together so far.
A small breakaway was made with all the favourites in it, Shleck out of picture but very close, they hold maximum of 1 minute to the peloton.
The whole peloton comes together again, when the second crossing starts, so far so good, and if we keep this up, we should be able to see mass sprint today.
The second climb took some casualties and reduced the peloton to 67 riders, but all the favourites remain in the peloton. Gerrans attacked and successfully won the KOM point, securing his jersey, Schleck with an attack came second, and very strong Paolini today came third.
1.5km to go and Downing as usual placed Hagen in prime position for
another stage win. Everything looks good for us, but Paolini is right on Hagen wheel, so it’s gonna be close sprint.
And Paolini takes it, with an explosive acceleration he went past so far unbeatable Hagen, and wins today’s stage. Hagen went too soon in the wind and at the end he lost some energy and was overtaken by Kreuziger and Horner, at the end he ends with 4th and his streak is finally broken.
Results
1 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 3h39'39
2 Roman Kreuziger Pro Team Astana s.t.
3 Chris Horner Team RadioShack s.t.
4 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky ProCycling s.t.
5 Martijn Maaskant Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
6 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
7 Fränk Schleck Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project s.t.
8 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack s.t.
9 Simon Clarke Pro Team Astana s.t.
10 José Iván Gutiérrez Movistar Team s.t.
Spoiler
11
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Stéphane Augé
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
14
Christian Vande Velde
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
15
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
16
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
17
Giovanni Visconti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
18
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
19
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
20
Tejay Van Garderen
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
21
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
22
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
23
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
24
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
25
Jakob Fuglsang
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
26
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
27
Bernhard Eisel
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
28
Baden Cooke
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
29
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
30
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
31
Stuart O'Grady
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
32
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
33
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
34
Sébastien Rosseler
Team RadioShack
s.t.
35
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
36
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
38
Martin Mortensen
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
39
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
40
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
41
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
43
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
s.t.
44
Bart De Clercq
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
45
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
46
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
47
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
48
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
49
Kjell Carlström
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
50
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
51
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
52
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
53
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
54
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
55
Andreas Klier
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
56
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
57
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
58
Bert Grabsch
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
59
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Leonardo Duque
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
62
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
63
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
64
Manuel Cardoso
Team RadioShack
s.t.
65
Maxim Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
66
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
67
Gerald Ciolek
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
+ 2'00
69
David Blanco
Geox - TMC
s.t.
70
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'12
71
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
72
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
+ 2'26
73
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
75
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
76
Marcel Sieberg
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
77
Jürgen Roelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
78
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
79
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
s.t.
80
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
81
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
82
Martin Pedersen
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
83
David Tanner
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
84
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
85
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
86
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Maarten Neyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
88
Marco Corti
Geox - TMC
s.t.
89
Francisco Javier Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
90
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
91
John Degenkolb
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
92
Roberto De Patre
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
93
Adam Hansen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
94
Wouter Weylandt
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
95
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
96
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
97
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
99
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
s.t.
100
Kevin Van Impe
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
s.t.
102
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
103
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
104
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
105
José Vicente García Acosta
Movistar Team
s.t.
106
Carlos Oyarzun
Movistar Team
s.t.
107
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
108
Roger Hammond
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
109
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
111
Jens Mouris
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
112
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
113
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
114
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
115
Timothy Roe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
116
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
117
Matthias Brändle
Geox - TMC
s.t.
118
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
119
Domenik Klemme
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
120
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
121
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
122
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Bjorn Selander
Team RadioShack
s.t.
124
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
125
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
126
Alexandre Pliuschin
Katusha Team
s.t.
127
Andy Cappelle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
128
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
129
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
130
Daniele Colli
Geox - TMC
s.t.
131
Johnnie Walker
Geox - TMC
s.t.
132
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
133
Marco Bandiera
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
135
Kasper Klostergaard
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
136
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
137
Diego Caccia
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
138
Leigh Howard
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
139
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
140
Fabrice Piemontesi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
141
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
142
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
143
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
144
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 4'18
145
Dimitri Kryvtsov
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
146
Kenny De Haes
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 4'58
147
Maciej Bodnar
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 6'58
148
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
149
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
150
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'14
151
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
152
Alberto Loddo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
153
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 8'50
154
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 14'50
Well, we are not happy, but not very dissapointed, Sky is unhappy that we couldn't tie Valverde 6 stages record, but still we can win 5, which is still an amazing achievement. At least we know there is someone else out there, that can finally beat the Norwegian.
Overall
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
17h37'07
2
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 27
3
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
+ 28
4
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 29
5
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 33
6
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
+ 35
7
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 39
8
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
9
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
+ 40
10
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Sébastien Rosseler
Team RadioShack
s.t.
12
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
13
Andreas Klier
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 41
14
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 42
15
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
16
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 43
17
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
18
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
19
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
20
Fränk Schleck
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
21
Simon Clarke
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
22
Martin Mortensen
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
23
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
25
Bernhard Eisel
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
26
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
27
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
28
Baden Cooke
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
29
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Manuel Cardoso
Team RadioShack
s.t.
31
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
32
Gerald Ciolek
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
33
Stéphane Augé
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
34
Maxim Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
35
José Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
s.t.
36
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
37
Bert Grabsch
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
38
Leonardo Duque
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
39
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
40
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
41
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
42
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
43
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
44
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
45
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
46
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
47
Stuart O'Grady
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
48
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
49
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
50
Giovanni Visconti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
51
Christian Vande Velde
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
52
Tejay Van Garderen
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
53
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
54
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
55
Ben Hermans
Team RadioShack
s.t.
56
Bart De Clercq
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
57
Kjell Carlström
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
58
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
59
Jakob Fuglsang
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
60
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
61
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
62
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
63
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
64
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
65
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
66
David Blanco
Geox - TMC
+ 2'43
67
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
68
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'55
69
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
70
John Degenkolb
HTC - Highroad
+ 3'04
71
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
72
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 3'06
73
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
74
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Maarten Neyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 3'07
76
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
77
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
+ 3'08
78
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'09
79
Marcel Sieberg
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
80
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
81
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
82
Roger Hammond
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
83
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
85
Kevin Van Impe
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
88
David Tanner
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
89
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
s.t.
90
Bjorn Selander
Team RadioShack
s.t.
91
Marco Corti
Geox - TMC
s.t.
92
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
93
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
94
Wouter Weylandt
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
95
Jürgen Roelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
96
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Martin Pedersen
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
99
Domenik Klemme
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
100
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
s.t.
101
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Roberto De Patre
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
103
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
104
Marco Bandiera
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
106
Francisco Javier Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
107
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
108
Alexandre Pliuschin
Katusha Team
s.t.
109
José Vicente García Acosta
Movistar Team
s.t.
110
Kasper Klostergaard
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
111
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
112
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
113
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
114
Andy Cappelle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
115
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
116
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
117
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
118
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
119
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
120
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Daniele Colli
Geox - TMC
s.t.
122
Leigh Howard
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
123
Matthias Brändle
Geox - TMC
s.t.
124
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
125
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
126
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
127
Johnnie Walker
Geox - TMC
s.t.
128
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
129
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
130
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
131
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
132
Carlos Oyarzun
Movistar Team
s.t.
133
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
134
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Diego Caccia
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
136
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'24
137
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'30
138
Dimitri Kryvtsov
Lampre - ISD
+ 5'01
139
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
140
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5'16
141
Kenny De Haes
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 5'41
142
Timothy Roe
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'22
143
Fabrice Piemontesi
Androni Giocattoli
+ 7'26
144
Maciej Bodnar
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 7'41
145
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'57
146
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
147
Adam Hansen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 8'42
148
Jens Mouris
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'46
149
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
150
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 11'58
151
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
+ 13'14
152
Alberto Loddo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 13'34
153
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 15'33
154
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 20'43
We are very happy with the overall classification, Boasson Hagen is almost sure winner of this year Toud Down Under, only a crash can stop him. The young British talent Peter Kennaugh 10th is really good. We will also at tomorrow stage want to improve Downing and Gerrans overall position.
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
38
2
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
18
3
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
18
4
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
14
5
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
12
Edvald won this classification quite comfortably, we are also happy so far with Nordhaug 5th.
Mountain
1
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
56
2
Fränk Schleck
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
24
3
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
16
4
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
16
5
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
16
This was Gerrans goal before the race started and we are very happy to accomplish it.
U25: Edvald Boasson Hagen Team: Astana
Edited by Alakagom on 01-02-2011 22:08
Oh my god, 4 stage wins, 4th place on Willunga stage, all but teams classification and you are not happy? wow.. Edited by lluuiiggii on 01-02-2011 21:14
Tour Down Under Stage 6
Adelaide City Council Street Circuit
The final stage of the 2010 Tour Down Under is a 90km Criterium around Adelaide City. The stage on paper looks hilly but it’s it is not, even the sprinters not good at hills stand a chance. As all classifications are almost certain, only crash could stop Hagen winning the overall, we are very chilled out before the stage.
Team objectives :
- Take 5th stage victory with Hagen
- Top 5 win Downing
- Attack with Gerrans and take first intermediate sprint
Favourites: Boasson Hagen, Alan Davis, Gert Steegmans, Robert Hunter My secret tip: I would be lying if I didn’t say it is Boasson Hagen, only Alan Davis or Luca Polini can stop him, but I don’t think today.
Start in Adelaide. All members of team Sky in very good mood and especially young Norwegian, securing his first Pro Tour race of the season. Most important today is to avoid crashes.
We control the peloton, so no break is created. We have a plan on our own.
It’s 15km to the first intermediate sprint and now we take a chance. Both Gerrans And Kennaugh attack. Tanner and García Acosta followed.
And the task is complete, Gerrans take first place, taking full points and more importantly bounus seconds, Kennaugh comes second, and Tanner gets third.
6km cycled, and we have another point, this one for the King of the Mountains jersey, as we want to make best overall score Gerrans with no effort takes it.
As the peloton almost caught us, we didn’t think we would survided to the last intermediate sprint and we were bit unprepared, still we took second with Gerrans. Vaitkus sprinted away from the peloton and takes the points.
Gesink had a nasty crash, and now is already 3 minutes behind, bad luck for this young superstar, but fortunately his injury is not very bad, and he can race with no pain.
4km to go, Boasson Hagen has a perfect position, and surprisingly no Aland Davis, Gert Steegmans and Luca Paolini at the front. Almost all of the top sprinters are missing and are at the back of the 79 men peloton. And another surprise, some GC contenders are in the second group 1 minute behind, Roman Kreuziger, Chrish Horner and Rojas will miss out on their good overall place before this sstage. Good for us.
3km to go, our train looking great so far, Vaitkus just drove away from everybody else on few metres, Roman Feillu tries to follow his wheel.
1700 metres to go and we can already see the winner, Downing acceleration was just superb, and now Boasson Hagen can almost celebrate his 5th victory.
Where the hell are those people looking! Are they blind, wrong way people, the whole action is behind you, but I suppose they wanna watch Gesink later.
Last straight line, and Hagen gots it in the bag, Gesink must be embarrassed to say the least.
Yess, now we are one hundred percent sure, Boasson Hagen completes the last stage with a win, taking the overall as well. The whole Sky team is really proud, and we sure he will get some bonus payments at the end of the January.
While Hagen gives thanks to the god, Russell Downing comes second, what a result, he was the main force of our team, he lead-out Hagen on every stage, and he has done his job superbly, he has a strong chance of winning Sky Rider of the Month, while Hagen will take UCI Rider of the January for sure.
This is turning out to be even more amazing stage for us than hoped, Barry takes fourth place, looks like none of the good sprinters even sprinted, what a strange and great result for us. Can’t be more happier.
Results
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
2h05'56
2
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
4
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
7
Stuart O'Grady
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
s.t.
8
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
10
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Could I have predicted this result before this stage, a definite not. We are extremly happy having five riders in the Top10. Amazing achievement by our whole team.
Overall
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
19h42'53
2
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 37
3
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
+ 38
4
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 39
5
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
+ 45
6
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 47
7
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 48
8
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
+ 50
9
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
10
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Success, we take overall with amazing monster, Edvald Boasson Hagen, we could not be proud more, hopefully this is the start of a great season for him. Downing with the 2nd takes sixth, our goal before the race was to have also fifth with Gerrans,but we are happy with this as well. Though Gerrans couldn't attack on any hill stages, he managed to get bonus seconds and finished 8th, great January for him as well, taking KOM Jersey and Aussie Jersey with him. Our biggest super talent takes 7th and we are really proud of him, hope he will continue to improve and get better and better.
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
46
2
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
18
3
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
18
4
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
14
5
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
12
This classification was won easily by us, we are very happy to win it, and get another jersey, Lars done really well securing fifth.
Mountain
1
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
72
2
Fränk Schleck
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
24
3
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
20
4
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
16
5
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
16
Gerrans way too dominant for anybody for this classification, great result by him, he is the second best Aussie overall so he should be happy as well. We hope he will have much success later in the season.
Under 25
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
19h42'53
2
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 48
3
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 50
4
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 52
5
Simon Clarke
Pro Team Astana
+ 53
Another classification dominated by Hagen, we are happy to secure the double and we hope for this pair to become best of the best in the future.
Team : Saxobank SunGard
Not much to say, we were last in this classification loosing to the winner 0' seconds, and that was becasue of the bug, whenever you finish fist on first stage and there won't be time changes on second, you imediataely go to the last position, we didn't complain the the organizer, as this might be our must successful tour this year.
Edited by Alakagom on 02-02-2011 22:19
