Tour Down Under: Gerrans & Greipel Victors on Australia Day Down Under

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Simon Gerrans has celebrated Australia Day by winning his third Santos Tour Down Under crown on the Adelaide City circuit while the stage went to Andre Greipel. Andy Fenn was third.

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“I’ve got my third Tour Down Under win thanks to an outstanding team,” said Gerrans. “This is an Australian team, on Australia Day, in a WorldTour event, what else could I ask for?”

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Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) celebrates his third Santos Tour Down Under crown.  Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

Australians scooped a clean sweep of overall honours with Gerrans also topping the Adam Internet Sprint category. His Australian registered professional team, Orica-GreenEDGE won the Hindmarsh teams’ classification and Queenslander Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) will take home the Skoda King of the Mountain climber’s prize. The Cycle Instead Young Rider award went to UniSA-Australia’s Jack Haig.

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Gerrans took the crown by a hard earned one second margin from 2011 Tour de France champion and compatriot, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) after wrenching it from his shoulders in yesterday’s hilltop finish at Willunga. Italian Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) was a further four seconds back in third place overall.

Gerrans, the Australian road race champion, signalled his intention to go for a third Tour win when he won the San Remo Pasta Stage 1 sprint into Angaston.

“It’s been a hard race for me and my team-mates,” said Gerrans who lost the lead to Evans who won Thursday’s Thomas Foods Stage 3 into Stirling. “It’s been difficult to get the Ochre jersey back, what a tough week!

“I had the experience from two years ago of defending the lead with a very small margin (same time as Alejandro Valverde),” he explained. “I was confident in my team-mates to take me home safely, which they did today. Until I crossed the line, I suspected that Diego Ulissi would try and do something, but it went all right.”

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Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) placed second overall in the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under. Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

Evans was philisophical about his result. “This race is fantastic, the fans really make this race and this ambiance, I am so pleased, so proud of us as a cycling nation,” he said. “I took my best judgement on the road (so) I have to be satisfied with how it went.

“We prefer to win, that’s what we’re hard-wired to win,” said Evans. “(But) to lose by 1 second shows that we’re (BMC Racing Team) in a good way.”

But today wasn’t an all Aussie celebration because German sprint sensation Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) scorched home at top speed to win his 16th Santos Tour Down Under stage.

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Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) wins the final stage. Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo  

“Chapeau to my team-mates, they rode incredibly fast so I could save myself for the last moment,” said Greipel. “This is a very nice victory for us, I had fast legs today and I’m confident in my capacities these days.

“It was difficult to keep the peloton together but everyone knew where we’d start the lead out. This new circuit is really fast but we have enough experience in the team to adjust ourselves to a new course. I’m really happy to come out of the Santos Tour Down Under as a winner again.”

Close behind in second place was Australian Mark Renshaw (Omega Pharma – QuickStep) with his team mate Andrew Fenn (GBR) third on the stage.

“There was a long, straight headwind section,” said Greipel’s team mate Marcel Sieberg. “We lost Adam Hansen with a puncture with about three kilometres to go so we had to wait a little more.

“It was perfect for us today and we take confidence, it’s a WorldTour race, when we are good here, we know we can be good in Europe.”

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Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) celebrates his 16th Santos Tour Down Under stage win. Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

The Adelaide City circuit for the Be Safe Be Seen, MAC Stage 6 took the riders over 18 laps of a new 4.7 kilometre ciruit around Rymill Park, out through the CBD to Victoria Square and back. Sweeping past some of Adelaide’s key landmarks it provided a fitting finale to a week of first class action that attracted 766 thousand fans.

Orica-GreenEDGE team director, Matthe White, says the Santos Tour Down Under is a special win for the team.

“It’s the only WorldTour race on home soil so to come away with the win, and the team classification, it’s a brilliant way to start the season,” said White. “It’s only the start of the season. We have a lot of big goals coming up.”

The victory puts Gerrans, on 114 points, in the lead on the individual WordlTour rankings ahead of Evans on 88 points with Ulissi third on 83 ponts.

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The start of the Be Safe Be Seen MAC Stage 6 of the Santos Tour Down Under.  Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo 

“It’s been a difficult stage for me with the heat (33C), the tension of riding for GC (overall), some dangerous riders in the bunch… It’s normal because we were just a few seconds apart but I managed to remain close to the front with my team,” said Ulissi. “Third in the Santos Tour Down Under is a better result than I expected before coming here. I’m delighted”

As expected on the final stage of the Santos Tour Down Under an early break rode clear. Team Europcar’s Angelo Tulik had tried an earlier escape but crashed on a corner and ended up back in the bunch. Russian Maxim Belkov (Katusha) crashed over the top of him but jumped back on his bike and continued the attack along with Australia’s perennial escapee William Clarke (Drapac). Frenchman Julien Bérard (AG2R La Mondiale), joined them soon after and the trio opened up a lead of more than a minute.

It was bad luck for Clarke when he punctured midway through the sixth lap which meant he missed out on the chance to grab the maximum point s in the first of two Adam Internet intermediate sprints of the day at 28.5 kilometres. Instead it was Bérard who claimed the win ahead of Belkov with Clarke 19 seconds behind as he chased to rejoin the lead. The peloton followed 1:47 later.

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 Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) celebrates his third Santos Tour Down Under crown. Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo 

The second intermediate sprint came at the end of the twelfth lap, 30 kilometres from the finish and this time it was Belkov who picked up the top points ahead of Bérard and Clarke. By now the gap was closing with the bunch just 1:21 behind. Orica-GreenEDGE rode tempo on the front in control of the bunch.

Trek Factory Racing took over the chase on lap 14 before, as expected, the teams of the big name sprinters came to the fore. The responsibility was that of Lotto-Belisol for Greipel and Giant-Shimano for Marcel Kittel but several other opportunists also had hopes of a final stage win.

Greipel was positioned perfectly but not so Kittel whose team mate’s lost him in the peloton traffic.

“I am not sure what happened. I could not find Marcel Kittel in the end,” said his team mate Koen de Kort who was fourth on the line. “He was on my wheel, it was a very hectic course, tight corners, long straights. Somewhere in the last lap, Marcel must have lost my wheel.

“I told me teammates to go find him, while I stayed in the front (but) he never got there. At about 600m to go, I heard through the radio, Koen, just sprint yourself.

“I don’t sprint enough. I choose the wrong side of the wheel, then I had to restart again. I came through fourth. I don’t have the experience in sprinting these days. I don’t tend to do that anymore.”

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Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) won the Skoda King of the Mountain title.  Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo.

No climbs were contested today which means Australian Adam Hansen goes home with the Skoda King of the Mountain crown after amassing 28 points, including a win in the first category one climb of the race up Menglers Hill in the Barossa on Tuesday. That win ensured him overall climbing honours on a countback from Frenchman Axel Domont (AG2R – La Mondiale) who also finished on 28 points.

In the Cycle Instead Young Rider competition talented 20 year old Jack Haig claimed the honours. The 2013 under 23 Australian mountain bike champion made an impression especially in the climbing stages to finish 17th overall, 2:08 off Gerrans lead, and the top ranked under 23 year old. He was 1:09 clear of his nearest rival Carlos Verona from Spain (Omega Pharma – QuickStep).

“I definitely didn’t expect to ride the last stage of my first WorldTour race with the white jersey on my shoulders,” said Haig. “I had enough time on Carlos (Verona) to not necessarily worry about it. I had a decent buffer.

“Had I been told one week ago that I’d be sitting in this winners’ room with these people who are among the world’s best cyclists, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s amazing!” said Haig who hoped to gain Commonwealth Games selection for mountain bike. “I’ll become a full time road rider after that and I hope to join ProTeam next year.”

The Tanya Denver Memorial Award was presented to Jack Bobridge who in 46th place was the top ranked South Australian overall. The Europcar Most Competitive rider award of the day was given to Will Clarke (Drapac)

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(Credit Stuart Smith) Team Europcar’s Angelo Tulik crashed on a corner and Russian Maxim Belkov (Katusha) crashed over the top early in the stage.

STAGE RESULT
1 GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team 01:55:16
2 RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
3 FENN Andrew Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
4 DE KORT Koen Team Giant-Shimano
5 CANTWELL Jonathan Drapac Professional Cycling
6 GOSS Matthew Orica GreenEDGE
7 HAAS Nathan Garmin – Sharp
8 ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team
9 KOLAR Michael Tinkoff-Saxo
10 HAYMAN Mathew Orica GreenEDGE
11 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE
12 GUARNIERI Jacopo Astana Pro Team
13 VIVIANI Elia Cannondale
14 VON HOFF Steele Garmin – Sharp
15 EWAN Caleb UniSA-Australia
16 REZA Kevin Team Europcar
17 SOUPE Geoffrey Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
18 VAN POPPEL Danny Trek Factory Racing
19 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE
20 THOMAS Geraint Team Sky
21 SøRENSEN Nicki Tinkoff-Saxo
22 GESINK Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team
23 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida
24 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
25 ROWE Luke Team Sky
26 PORTE Richie Team Sky
27 VORGANOV Eduard Team Katusha
28 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
29 TRUSOV Nikolay Tinkoff-Saxo
30 MORI Manuele Lampre – Merida
31 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team
32 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team
33 HERMANS Ben BMC Racing Team
34 HALLER Marco Team Katusha
35 GIACOPPO Anthony UniSA-Australia
36 FERRARI Roberto Lampre – Merida
37 MCCARTHY Jay Tinkoff-Saxo
38 EISEL Bernhard Team Sky
39 CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE
40 BOOKWALTER Brent BMC Racing Team
41 WURF Cameron Cannondale
42 VERONA QUINTANILLA Carlos Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
43 BOUET Maxime AG2R La Mondiale
44 DEBUSSCHERE Jens Lotto Belisol Team
45 ALAPHILIPPE Julian Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:10
46 PLAZA MOLINA Rubén Movistar Team
47 SILIN Egor Team Katusha
48 BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
49 DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale
50 MEYER Travis Drapac Professional Cycling
51 HAIG Jack UniSA-Australia
52 SUTHERLAND Rory Tinkoff-Saxo
53 KOCHETKOV Pavel Team Katusha
54 ERVITI OLLO Imanol Movistar Team
55 TANKINK Bram Belkin Pro Cycling Team
56 CLEMENT Stef Belkin Pro Cycling Team
57 DIDIER Laurent Trek Factory Racing
58 GAVAZZI Francesco Astana Pro Team
59 SULZBERGER Wesley Drapac Professional Cycling
60 QUEMENEUR Perrig Team Europcar
61 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
62 BROECKX Stig Lotto Belisol Team
63 ZABEL Rick BMC Racing Team
64 SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing
65 PORSEV Alexander Team Katusha
66 GESCHKE Simon Team Giant-Shimano
67 VEIKKANEN Jussi Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
68 HUCKER Robbie Drapac Professional Cycling
69 FELLINE Fabio Trek Factory Racing
70 EARLE Nathan Team Sky
71 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team
72 TURGOT Sébastien AG2R La Mondiale
73 KRIZEK Matthias Cannondale
74 SIEBERG Marcel Lotto Belisol Team
75 STANNARD Ian Team Sky
76 KITTEL Marcel Team Giant-Shimano 00:27
77 THURAU Bjorn Team Europcar 00:29
78 TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:34
79 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Giant-Shimano
80 BAUER Jack Garmin – Sharp 00:37
81 ARASHIRO Yukiya Team Europcar 00:59
82 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE 01:06
83 DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE
84 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team
85 LAPTHORNE Darren Drapac Professional Cycling 01:24
86 BONNAFOND Guillaume AG2R La Mondiale
87 MORABITO Steve BMC Racing Team
88 JUUL-JENSEN Christopher Tinkoff-Saxo
89 BOBRIDGE Jack Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:32
90 BROWN Graeme Belkin Pro Cycling Team
91 FLENS Rick Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:42
92 AGNOLI Valerio Astana Pro Team
93 WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing
94 VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing
95 WACKERMANN Luca Lampre – Merida
96 WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team
97 SULZBERGER Bernard Drapac Professional Cycling
98 BONO Matteo Lampre – Merida
99 PETERSON Tom Team Giant-Shimano
100 GASPAROTTO Enrico Astana Pro Team
101 DEKKER Thomas Garmin – Sharp
102 BENNETT George Cannondale
103 BETTIOL Alberto Cannondale
104 DEIGNAN Philip Team Sky
105 FAIRLY Caleb Garmin – Sharp
106 ELISSONDE Kenny Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
107 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose Movistar Team
108 COURTEILLE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
109 BONNET William Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
110 ARNDT Nikias Team Giant-Shimano
111 HUPOND Thierry Team Giant-Shimano
112 GAUDIN Damien AG2R La Mondiale
113 VAN POPPEL Boy Trek Factory Racing
114 DENNIS Rohan Garmin – Sharp 02:13
115 CIMOLAI Davide Lampre – Merida 02:22
116 MORENO BAZAN Javier Movistar Team 02:25
117 VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael Tinkoff-Saxo
118 HUFFMAN Evan Astana Pro Team
119 MOHORIC Matej Cannondale
120 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale
121 FLAKEMORE Campbell UniSA-Australia
122 COUSIN Jérôme Team Europcar
123 CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling
124 IGNATYEV Mikhail Team Katusha
125 O’ BRIEN Mark UniSA-Australia
126 BOIVIN Guillaume Cannondale
127 BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha 02:41
128 VAN DER PLOEG Neil UniSA-Australia 04:19
129 DANIEL Maxime AG2R La Mondiale 06:13
130 LECUISINIER Pierre-Henri Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
OVERALL
1 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE 19:57:35
2 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 00:01
3 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida 00:05
4 PORTE Richie Team Sky 00:10
5 HAAS Nathan Garmin – Sharp 00:27
6 GESINK Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:30
7 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE 00:34
8 THOMAS Geraint Team Sky 00:37
9 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team
10 SILIN Egor Team Katusha 00:47
11 SUTHERLAND Rory Tinkoff-Saxo 01:00
12 BOOKWALTER Brent BMC Racing Team 01:13
13 BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:41
14 PLAZA MOLINA Rubén Movistar Team 01:45
15 BOUET Maxime AG2R La Mondiale 01:54
16 VORGANOV Eduard Team Katusha 01:57
17 HAIG Jack UniSA-Australia 02:08
18 HUCKER Robbie Drapac Professional Cycling 02:15
19 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 02:38
20 WURF Cameron Cannondale 02:49

28 LAPTHORNE Darren Drapac Professional Cycling 03:56
30 SULZBERGER Bernard Drapac Professional Cycling 06:11
31 SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing 06:27
45 DEIGNAN Philip Team Sky 10:45
48 STANNARD Ian Team Sky 11:53
49 BOBRIDGE Jack Belkin Pro Cycling Team 12:16
51 BAUER Jack Garmin – Sharp 15:31
65 O’ BRIEN Mark UniSA-Australia 23:11
95 VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing 33:04:00
108 ROWE Luke Team Sky 40:31:00
116 FENN Andrew Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 43:50:00

 

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