It uses to be the big day in the Tour Down Under. The double Willunga Hill stage with the finish on top of the 2nd time.
Big question if Schreurs can defend his lead and if not, who will be the rider/s to attack today? Di Maggio, Froome, Flügel or Kinoshita surely the best puncheurs next to him.
Also the U25 fight still thrilling. About half a dozen riders within 1min with theoretical chances. But it`s probably between Mohoric and Watson, which are s.t. and today might be the decider.
The KoM is with Walker on 16 points but 32 to offer today and hence chances to change aren`t that small.
And last but not least couple of puncheurs with a time loss already and hence high interest of a stage win here.
6 riders in the breakaway and one jersey is easy to spot. Walker not interested in a gamble and hence going into the attack to secure himself the KoM jersey.
He is joined by Sinelobov Sakalou Gillett Omarsson Sanikwathi
Best placed is the National Champion from Island but already more than 7min behind.
Yet again Orange is not really needed for pace making. Good thing for them and probably not really smart by the other teams.
But Indosat (Anuar Aziz), Kraftwerk (Flügel) and Meiji (Kinoshita) seem to feel confident enough.
And those three teams really did put the hammer on todays breakaway and it`s just the start of the first passage over Old Willunga Hill. Still 3,7km to the top of the 7% climb but the break is basically caught.
And it`s actually Kraftwerk powering into the early kilometers but it`s their sprint star Cavendish to give it all for his team. Probably also an important thing to do after pretty much not fulfilling the team`s expectations in the sprints so far.
But the top teams must have been shocked by this early fusion and reduced the pace heavily again as this would make it too difficult to control.
One rider immediately reacts on this slow pace and attacks again. It`s Walker and now at 32 points and Scheit, Mehr-Wenige, Kuboki, Kreder, Mutsumine and Zielinski going over the top next, it`s secured to remain in it. Very well done and big celebration of the home spectators.
Right after the KoM he drops back into the peloton as his energy wasn`t enough surely to do a 20km solo.
Not a lot did happen on the first passage obviously as the pace dropped down with no attacks after the first kilometer. Hence the group over the top is still 131 riders!
Only weak helpers are dropped or the clearly injured Palini, Paulinho and Lavery.
3,2km left. Normally time for one team taking over and pacing up the climb. But here too many similar strong riders and no team wants to do the work for all. Hence the leaders basically look left and right but no one accelerates first and hence pace is rather slow right now.
Gautier Froome Kinoshita Schreurs Ulissi Anuar Aziz Kump Flügel Di Maggio Vogt Watson Mohoric Modolo Kadri Mehr-Wenige Reichenbach Barbin
all in a decent position in this order basically.
Then with a tiny gap and obviously behind couple of riders also Serry, Zingle, Waeytens, Klemme, Theuns not as perfectly placed but probably riders you would have attacked to attack anyway.
1,7km and not a lot has changed. Only hte pace got a bit higher but still not 100% as Gautier and Froome in first position rather wait and not going all-in yet.
Only rider losing a few spots at the moment is Ulissi who isn`t out of his saddle yet. Also Anuar Aziz not yet in full concentration mode.
Most concentration surely at Kraftwerk with Flügel being companied by both Mehr-Wenige and Kreder in the first 7 positions.
What`s up with Ulissi. He still sitting in his saddle and almost boycotts todays stage. He is in 25th - 30th position only and not a lot left.
Also GC leader Schreurs not ideally placed as he has lost his top 1-2 row position and only in ~15th position now. Surely not the smartest thing in a race where bonus seconds can decide.
Flamme Rouge and now the pace got higher. It`s Gautier in first position with last years winner Flügel next. Also Froome and Kinoshita well placed.
Behind a bit in their slipstream Di Maggio, Mohoric and also Modolo!
Flügel either can`t go faster or was blocked a bit on the side.
Instead Froome now accelerates trying to go past Gautier with Mohoric in behind.
Kinoshita not looking 100% fit while Di Maggio has lots of room on the other side and now trying to accelerate.
After a small gap then Watson is the one trying to close it as it`s the fight for the U25 jersey with Mohoric being better placed.
Also Modolo, Kump, Schreurs, Anuar Aziz, Reichenbach, Barbin, Caruso and Kreder/Mehr-Wenige still there.
No sign of Ulissi and gaps are opening...
200m and while Gautier and Froome are side by side it`s Di Maggio now with his final kick. Probably the fastest right now.
And Ferrero not doing Schreurs a favour a bit behind. The Dutch clearly could go faster but is totally blocked behind the two.
Kump next to him having reached his limit on the 10% sections but fighting to remain a top5 GC rider here.
In fron Di Maggio had the best position in the end. Saving energy in the 2nd row and once his side got opened he went for the attack and passed all others.
Then Gautier on a very strong 2nd seeing he was there since the beginning just like Froome in 3rd.
Mohoric on a fantastic 4th, which is impressive but sitting behind Froome all climb surely helped him a lot.
Kinoshita not with his 2016 form it seems only finishing 5th ahead of Flügel, who couldn`t finish is team`s work.
Almost most impressive though the late pace by Watson, who closed the gap even and gets a nice 7th. Not really helping him with Mohoric ahead but surely a big mark early on this season.
Schreurs finally did pass the Ferrero duo once Barbin struggled and might have won 1-2 seconds this way.
In combination with Watson also being right in between the race officials decided to give those the same time.
Froome, Di Maggio etc. surely not happy by this as they are 2nd and 3rd in GC now, while Team Orange is celebrating to keep the race lead! Quite a present indeed I`d say.
Gautier with todays performance up to 4th while Kump sits in 5th and just 24s off. In theory a win tomorrow could see him moving up to 2nd even! Hence very dangerous for some others.
Anuar Aziz, the Ferrero and Kraftwerk duo, Reichenbach, Caruso also in this s.t. group led by Schreurs.
Then a gap and this one rather big at 46s. In there Ulissi as biggest loser. No idea why he rode like this when having a good position to even attack the win. In fact he was next to Di Maggio at the start. He drops down to 8th in the GC.
Other leaders such as Vogt/Kadri +57, Waeytens +1'32, Klemme +2'05 surely need to improve in the next races.
