Santos Tour Down Under - Stage 5


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Another beautiful day in Australia. Today's stage finishes with the small hill. It could be too dificult for some sprinters, but we've already seen, that sprinters aren't afraid of hills in this race.



We have our rider in a breakaway, Steven Kruijswijk. If the break would be successful, the finish should suits him. Other riders are De Kort (Skil), Kondrut (Lampre), Robert and Van Impe (Quickstep).



Saxo Bank is chasing the break really hard. As always we can also Sky in the front, helping their leader, Hagen.



Riders are going uphill for the first time. Kruijswijk and De Kort show, that they are in great shape and they want to fight for the stage win.



They have a small advantage over the rest, but the peleton is going really fast.



Some riders are trying to break from the peleton, but the pace is too high.



C. Meyer (Garmin) is attacking, Kruijswijk and De Kort are also trying, but they are exhausted.



And there is Bozic attacking too. Matthews is in a good position, but he doesn't look well.



The hill started. Meyer is still leading, but Sorensen (Saxo Bank) is going really fast. Hagen (Sky) is on his wheel, while Matthews is blocked in the middle. There won't be another Top 10 result for today.



Hagen passed Sorensen and he's leading. Another stage win for him?



Yes, it is! Astonishing sprint by him! But he won't be the leader, because Bozic finishes in the peleton.



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It's the last stage and everyone wants to win. Interesting thing is, that none of Aussie's riders won the stage. Will it change today?



Peleton looks relaxed and allows to form the breakaway of 14 riders.



These riders are: Rigotto (Geox), Magnell (Saxo Bank), Wyss (BMC), Nizzolo (Leopard), Lequatre (Pepsi), Huff (Garmin), Perez (Euskaltel), Petit (Cofidis), Kluge (Skil), Lefevre (Quickstep), Biondo (Liquigas), Boucher (Omega), Eldridge and Bowden (Type 1).



Lampre and Sky set the very high pace up front. Our riders are in the front of the peleton to avoid falls.



The breakaway won't finish in front of peleton. 30 kilometers to go and they are only 2 minutes ahead.



10 kms to go, there is a huge crash in the peleton. Lots of riders lost contact with the leading riders and in the first group, there are less than 40 riders. Many non-sprinter riders, which were in the Top 10, are there too.



The Sky catches the breakaway and now there are only 48 riders fighting for a stage win.



Ivanov (Katusha) wants to surprise sprinters in final 5 kilometers, but they are going too fast. Matthews is leading out Bos.



Petacchi (Lampre) is the first to start the sprint. Right behind him there is Renshaw (HTC). Matthews did a great job and Bos is in a good position.



Mark Renshaw wins the final stage! He was stronger than anyone else! Theo Bos takes the second position and the third goes to Rojas (FDJ).



Results:

Vuelta a Mallorca - Stage 1


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Welcome to Mallorca! It's the beautiful island, but the weather isn't the best. This should be the stage for sprinters.



In the beginning there is a breakaway with almost 20 riders. We have Garate in the break.



Wiggins decided to chase the breakaway on his own and he did it.



Some of the riders attacked again, but this time the gap is bigger. The riders are: Garate, Jimenez (Burgos 2016), Drucker (Veranda's), Iparragirre (Orbea), Isasi (Euskaltel), Fernandez (Onda).



Kiryienka (Movistar) and Barbe (Landbouwkrediet) are attacking from the peleton 50 kilometers to go.



Type 1 and Caja Rural are working in the front of the peleton, but the gap is still 4 minutes with 40 kilometers to go.



15kms to go, the break is only a minute ahead, so Garate, Kiryienka and Barbe are trying to get away.



Barbe is much stronger and passed Garate and Kiryienka, but he is alone and has really low chance to win.



Garate and Kiryienka are chased by Sky, but Barbe is still in front 10 kilometers to go.



4kms to go, Barbe is back in the peleton. Sky formed train for Swift. Martens is helping Freire to take the place behind Swift.



And the sprint started. Swift is leading in front the Henderson (Sky), Freire and Goss (Saur).



Matthew Goss is today's winner! He was the strongest one. Freire came 4th. Not the best place for him, but he didn't feel good today.



Results:

Vuelta a Mallorca - Stage 2


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The pace was very low in the beginning. Niermann is attacking on the first mountain finish and gets 5 points.



Seven riders joined Niemann after his attack. These are: Oliveira (Onda), Prades (Orbea), Mendes (Antare), Mestre (Tavira), Reaza (Europcar) and Pedraza (Colombia).



Second mountain finish. Really hard fight for points. Niermann gets only 1 point for that.



Another three riders attacks from the peleton: Iriarte (Burgos), Pasamontes (Barbot) and Minne (Landbouwkrediet).



Goss is the only Saur rider in this race, so no one is going to help him in chasing the breakaway. Sky is working a bit in the front and Type 1 is also helping them.



Last mountain finish and again only 1 point for that. Unlucky he won't wear the climber jersey after this stage.



Sky decided to set the higher pace, but with 20 kilometers to the line, the break still holds 2'45'' lead!



Meanwhile Zaballa (Miche) attacked from the peleton. He is 1'20'' ahead, but also 1'20'' behind the break.



The finish is closing. Niermann is not the sprinter and he is tired after fighting for KoM points, so he's not the favourite.



The winner and the new leader is Hélder Oliveira from Onda! Prades (Orbea) was very close, but he couldn't make it.



Swift was the fastest in the peleton. Riders from Sky should be angry only on themselves, that the break was successful.



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