Tour Down Under: GC for Gerrans, stage for Ewan

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Australian Simon Gerrans wins Tour Down Under for a record fourth time with Orica GreenEdge celebrating double success as Caleb Ewan sprints home to win the final stage

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Tour Down Under: GC for Gerrans, stage for Ewan
Photos: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo 

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Australian Simon Gerrans has been crowned Santos Tour Down Under champion for a record fourth time with Orica GreenEdge celebrating double success after Caleb Ewan sprinted home to win the final stage.

“It’s certainly a dream result and we couldn’t have asked for more,” said Gerrans, 25, who also won two individual stages and the iiNet sprint title. Gerrans was overjoyed to reclaim the crown he also won in 2006, 2012 and 2014. He had a horror run of injury in 2015 but arrived in Adelaide in top form and ready to race.

“We are so lucky to have this race here in Australia,” said Gerrans who claimed his victory in front of 97 thousand fans. “It’s fantastic to race the Santos Tour Down Under with Orica-Greenedge, an Aussie team winning a WorldTour race in Australia, it’s just awesome. The boys did a sensational job today, they kept me at the front, out of trouble and delivered Caleb (Ewan) as close to the line as possible,” said Gerrans. “What a fantastic week it’s been for us.”

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Stage to Caleb Ewan

His young teammate Ewan, 21, reinforced his sprinting credentials and repaid his team’s backing to win today’s stage by more than a bike length from Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) with Giacomo Nizzoli (Trek Segafredo) third.

“Obviously it wasn’t just a great week for me, the team showed that this week they are by far the strongest,” said Ewan. “It was always going to be hard to come to this race and chase both stages (wins) and overall victory,” said Ewan who, although he also won the opening stage, knew the team’s priority was for Gerrans to win the title. “I’m so happy that we came away with four stages and the overall”.

“I actually got caught behind on the way down to the finish line (today) and I was way back in the bunch and I had go back to the front,” he explained. “Luckily my team-mates brought me up to where I wanted to be for sprinting and it all went well.”

Orica GreenEdge team director, Matt White, had nothing but praise for his team. “It’s been a huge week for our team, to win the overall and book-end with Caleb, this was confirmation for Caleb, he clearly was the fastest rider here all week,” said White. “And for Gerro (Gerrans) to come back, everyone saw how hard he worked. This will set the tone for rest of the year.”

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The Overall

Gerrans ended the 781 kilometre six stage event on a total time of 19h11m33s, nine seconds ahead of fellow Australian Richie Porte (BMC Racing) with Colombian Sergio Luis Henao (Team SKY) third at eleven seconds.

The Subaru King of the Mountain classification was won by Henao who amassed 38 points, ten ahead of Porte with Michael Woods (Cannondale) third on 20 points. Tinkoff’s Jay McCarthy was fourth overall which gave him the Europcar Young Rider title as the top ranked rider under the age of 25.

“I’m definitely very happy with how it’s gone this week,” said McCarthy who wore the Santos Ochre Leader’s jersey for a day after winning the second stage. “To finish fourth brings me the confidence I needed and I hope to deliver some more good results, I want to deliver more for the team.”

“I love the crowd and the atmosphere here,” said the young Australian who raced on front of a total of 731 thousand fans this week. “I had a lot of my family (from Queensland) here to watch me. Every time I’ve done the Tour Down Under, they’ve come to Adelaide as well. To be up on the podium for them and my team has been super exciting,” he said.

Cannondale Pro Cycling, who finished with two riders in the top ten, goes home with the Wilson Parking Winning Team trophy which they won by a narrow nine second margin over Movistar. Etixx Quickstep was third ranked at 1min12sec.

“Winning the teams classification here is a really good start for Cannondale,” said Simon Clarke who joined the team this year. ”We are on a mission this year to take the team to another level and unity is the key to getting results. This classification shows our unity,” he said. “The focus this week was to ride together… and to get to the podium with the whole team.”

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The final stage

Today’s Be Safe Be Seen MAC Stage 6 was no place for the faint hearted with an average speed of 47 kilometres an hour for the 90 kilometre, 20 lap, race on the Adelaide street circuit.

If anyone had expected an easy day in the saddle they were in for a shock as the pace over the first 20 kilometres was relentless. An attack went on the first lap that saw five riders breakaway and by the end of the first lap they were 30 seconds down the road. But the quintet included two riders who posed a threat in George Bennett (Lotto NL Jumbo) and Carlos Verona (Etixx QuickStep), both sitting less than 1min20sec off the race lead.

That forced Orica GreenEdge to the front immediately in pursuit of the escapees but it took them close to 20 kilometres to get the job done. Almost immediately another Lotto NL Jumbo rider, Maarten Tjallingi, launched a counter attack. Joining him soon after was another Dutchman, Thomas De Gendt from Lotto Soudal.

With both sitting more than 20 minutes out of contention they obviously hoped that would be allowed to sneak away but they struggled to increase their lead above 30 seconds.

Tjallingi was first under the arch at the end of lap eight (36km) for the first of two iiNet intermediate sprints. De Gendt was second and twenty seconds later Orica GreenEdge’s Daryl Impey stymied Tinkoff’s efforts to set Jay McCarthy up for the minor points.

Two Subaru King of the Mountain climbs featured in today’s stage but the overnight leader, Henao had no cause for concern as he started the day with an unassailable lead. The first time up Montefiore Hill, De Gendt crossed the line ahead of Tjallingii, as the pair churned through the kilometres setting an average pace of close to 47 kilometres an hour. Colombian Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) was third.

The second iiNet sprint was contested at the end of lap twelve (54 km) and De Gendt rode through with Tjallingii on his wheel. Not far behind Frenchman Johan Le Bon (FDJ) was alone in third place. The peloton was matching the pace of the leaders and holding the break to 30 seconds, nowhere near enough to secure a shot at the stage win. As the race headed into the final 30 kilometres the margin to the lead pair was down to 18 seconds.

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The second Subaru King of the Mountain climb was won by Tjallingii ahead of De Gendt with the bunch led over the line 23 seconds late by Pantano. Astana launched it’s own pursuit with Laurens De Vreese and Lieuwe Westra which triggered a surge of pace from 38 year old Tjallingii. De Gendt threw in the towel and dropped back to the peloton.

Four laps to go (18km) Tjallingii was joined by Westra while De Vreese returned to the bunch but the peloton wanted a sprint finish and they would not be denied, snaring the breakaway ahead of the final, frenetic lap. Tjallingii might not have stayed clear to contest the stage but his efforts in front of the race earned him the Alpecin Most Competitive rider of the day award.

“You never know what is going to happen at the end so you can only try to anticipate a bunch sprint,” he said. “I had in mind that the bunch could break up in the last lap and let me alone away for the stage victory and I wanted to see if there was any possibility to win.

“It’s been a great week of racing,” said Tjallingii. “It’s great to begin the season here with a lot of spectators around, South Australians are very supportive of the cyclists.”

Santos Tour Down Under Classification Winners after Be Safe Be Seen Stage 6 – Final Result
• Santos Tour Down Under Winner – Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge)
• iiNet Sprint Winner – Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge)
• Subaru King of the Mountains Winner – Sergio Luis Henao (Team SKY)
• Europcar Young Rider Winner – Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff)
• Wilson Parking Winning Team Competition – Cannondale Pro Cycling
• Tanya Denver Memorial Award (highest placed South Australian) – Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing)
• Alpecin Most Competitive Rider (Stage 6) – Maarten Tjallingi (Lotto NL Jumbo)

AlpsCyclesMidstory

FINAL STAGE
1 *EWAN Caleb OGE AUS B:10″ 00″
2 3 RENSHAW Mark DDD AUS B:06″ ‘ ‘
3 NIZZOLO Giacomo TFS ITA B:04″ ‘ ‘
4 BLYTHE Adam TNK GBR ‘ ‘
5 TCATEVITCH Aleksei KAT RUS ‘ ‘
6 SWIFT Ben SKY GBR ‘ ‘
7 KUMP Marko LAM SLO ‘ ‘
8 *MARTINELLI Davide EQS ITA ‘ ‘
9 HOWARD Leigh IAM AUS ‘ ‘
10 WIPPERT Wouter CPT NED ‘ ‘
11 GERRANS Simon OGE AUS ‘ ‘
12 POZZOVIVO Domenico ALM ITA ‘ ‘
13 VON HOFF Steele AUS AUS ‘ ‘
14 HENDERSON Greg LTS NZL ‘ ‘
15 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan José MOV ESP ‘ ‘
16 *GERTS Floris BMC NED ‘ ‘
17 DE KORT Koen TGA NED ‘ ‘
18 PREIDLER Georg TGA AUT ‘ ‘
19 ROUX Anthony FDJ FRA ‘ ‘
20 BAGDONAS Gediminas ALM LTU ‘ ‘
31 PORTE Richie BMC AUS ‘ ‘
79 ROWE Luke SKY GBR ‘ ‘
108 THOMAS Geraint SKY GBR ‘ ‘
130 KENNAUGH Peter SKY GBR 01’48”
131 STANNARD Ian SKY GBR ‘ ‘

 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 6
1 GERRANS Simon OGE AUS 19h11’33” 00″
2 PORTE Richie BMC AUS 19h11’42” 09″
3 HENAO Sergio Luis SKY COL 19h11’44” 11″
4 *MCCARTHY Jay TNK AUS 19h11’53” 20″
5 WOODS Michael CPT CAN ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
6 *FERNANDEZ ANDUJAR RubenMOV ESP 19h12’01” 28″
7 POZZOVIVO Domenico ALM ITA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
8 VALLS FERRI Rafael LTS ESP 19h12’09” 36″
9 MORABITO Steve FDJ SUI 19h12’22” 49″
10 *BEVIN Patrick CPT NZL 19h12’23” 50″
11 ULISSI Diego LAM ITA 19h12’25” 52″
12 MEYER Cameron DDD AUS 19h12’29” 56″
13 HERRADA Jesús MOV ESP 19h12’31” 58″
14 *HAMILTON Chris AUS AUS ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
15 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon AST ESP 19h12’35” 01’02”
16 *MEINTJES Louis LAM RSA 19h12’37” 01’04”
17 SILIN Egor KAT RUS 19h12’44” 01’11”
18 MACHADO Tiago KAT POR ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
19 BENNETT George TLJ NZL 19h12’48” 01’15”
20 CLARKE Simon CPT AUS 19h12’51” 01’18”
21 DE LA CRUZ David EQS ESP ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
22 *VERONA Carlos EQS ESP 19h12’52” 01’19”
23 DENNIS Rohan BMC AUS 19h12’55” 01’22”
24 ROUX Anthony FDJ FRA 19h13’00” 01’27”
25 *LUDVIGSSON Tobias TGA SWE ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
26 ROJAS José Joaquin MOV ESP ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
27 *VAKOC Petr EQS CZE ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
28 NORRIS Lachlan DPC AUS 19h13’08” 01’35”
29 PREIDLER Georg TGA AUT 19h13’11” 01’38”
30 PANTANO Jarlinson IAM COL 19h13’17” 01’44”
31 SERRY Pieter EQS BEL 19h13’19” 01’46”
32 MALACARNE Davide AST ITA 19h13’27” 01’54”
33 BOBRIDGE Jack TFS AUS 19h13’32” 01’59”
34 EARLE Nathan DPC AUS 19h13’43” 02’10”
35 STETINA Peter TFS USA 19h13’46” 02’13”
36 BAK Lars Ytting LTS DEN 19h13’55” 02’22”
37 TAARAMAE Rein KAT EST 19h14’33” 03’00”
38 GAUTIER Cyril ALM FRA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
39 THOMAS Geraint SKY GBR 19h14’39” 03’06”
40 *SÃœTTERLIN Jasha MOV GER 19h14’48” 03’15”
41 HAAS Nathan DDD AUS 19h14’53” 03’20”
42 MONTAGUTI Matteo ALM ITA 19h15’23” 03’50”
43 *PHELAN Adam DPC AUS 19h15’24” 03’51”
44 IMPEY Daryl OGE RSA 19h15’37” 04’04”
45 VELITS Martin EQS SVK 19h16’27” 04’54”
46 BATTAGLIN Enrico TLJ ITA 19h17’05” 05’32”
47 *HAMILTON Lucas AUS AUS 19h17’19” 05’46”
48 WESTRA Lieuwe AST NED 19h17’30” 05’57”
49 TCATEVITCH Aleksei KAT RUS 19h17’48” 06’15”
50 LAGUTIN Sergey KAT RUS 19h17’56” 06’23”
51 KENNAUGH Peter SKY GBR 19h19’05” 07’32”
52 LIGTHART Pim LTS NED 19h20’37” 09’04”
53 JONES Carter TGA USA 19h21’06” 09’33”
54 *GRMAY Tsgabu GebremaryamLAM ETH 19h21’33” 10’00”
55 *LANE Patrick AUS AUS 19h21’38” 10’05”
56 GIACOPPO Anthony AUS AUS 19h22’33” 11’00”
57 OLIVEIRA Nelson MOV POR 19h23’08” 11’35”
58 HANSEN Adam LTS AUS 19h23’27” 11’54”
59 *PIBERNIK Luka LAM SLO 19h23’31” 11’58”
60 *MANNION Gavin DPC USA 19h23’50” 12’17”
61 LE BON Johan FDJ FRA 19h23’57” 12’24”
62 BOARO Manuele TNK ITA 19h23’58” 12’25”
63 *SPOKES Samuel DPC AUS 19h24’03” 12’30”
64 VENTER Jaco DDD RSA 19h24’21” 12’48”
65 JANSE VAN RENSBURG ReinaDrdDtD RSA 19h24’24” 12’51”
66 DOCKX Gert LTS BEL 19h24’45” 13’12”
67 HESJEDAL Ryder TFS CAN 19h25’12” 13’39”
68 WYSS Danilo BMC SUI 19h25’27” 13’54”
69 TANNER David IAM AUS 19h27’08” 15’35”
70 OFFREDO Yoann FDJ FRA 19h27’37” 16’04”
71 SERGENT Jesse ALM NZL 19h28’34” 17’01”
72 VELITS Peter BMC SVK 19h29’06” 17’33”
73 *ZURLO Federico LAM ITA 19h29’16” 17’43”
74 *BETTIOL Alberto CPT ITA 19h29’48” 18’15”
75 DE VREESE Laurens AST BEL 19h30’05” 18’32”
76 ALBASINI Michael OGE SUI 19h30’19” 18’46”
77 SUTHERLAND Rory MOV AUS 19h30’44” 19’11”
78 MORI Manuele LAM ITA 19h31’04” 19’31”
79 STANNARD Ian SKY GBR 19h31’20” 19’47”
80 ARREDONDO Julian TFS COL 19h32’48” 21’15”
81 VON HOFF Steele AUS AUS 19h32’54” 21’21”
82 BOOM Lars AST NED 19h32’57” 21’24”
83 JIM Songezo DDD RSA 19h33’06” 21’33”
84 HAYMAN Mathew OGE AUS 19h33’29” 21’56”
85 GRUZDEV Dmitriy AST KAZ 19h33’37” 22’04”
86 *VALGREN ANDERSEN MichaeTlNK DEN 19h33’49” 22’16”
87 *GOGL Michael TNK AUT 19h34’03” 22’30”
88 *DURBRIDGE Luke OGE AUS 19h34’34” 23’01”
89 SHAW Patrick AUS AUS 19h34’47” 23’14”
90 *ZEPUNTKE Ruben CPT GER 19h34’53” 23’20”
91 GESCHKE Simon TGA GER 19h35’09” 23’36”
92 ROWE Luke SKY GBR 19h35’13” 23’40”
93 HOWARD Leigh IAM AUS 19h35’51” 24’18”
94 DE MARCHI Alessandro BMC ITA 19h36’26” 24’53”
95 *GERTS Floris BMC NED 19h36’42” 25’09”
96 DE GENDT Thomas LTS BEL 19h37’06” 25’33”
97 VAN POPPEL Boy TFS NED 19h37’17” 25’44”
98 BELKOV Maxim KAT RUS 19h37’31” 25’58”
99 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan JosMéOV ESP 19h37’49” 26’16”
100 *KAMYSHEV Arman AST KAZ 19h37’53” 26’20”
101 LINDEMAN Bert-Jan TLJ NED 19h38’14” 26’41”
102 HENDERSON Greg LTS NZL 19h38’22” 26’49”
103 ROVNY Ivan TNK RUS 19h38’26” 26’53”
104 TJALLINGII Maarten TLJ NED 19h39’08” 27’35”
105 BAGDONAS Gediminas ALM LTU 19h40’06” 28’33”
106 *VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume EQS BEL 19h42’44” 31’11”
107 SWIFT Ben SKY GBR 19h43’09” 31’36”
108 *LAKE Sean AUS AUS 19h43’57” 32’24”
109 MOSER Moreno CPT ITA 19h44’17” 32’44”
110 SARAMOTINS Aleksejs IAM LAT 19h45’10” 33’37”
111 NIZZOLO Giacomo TFS ITA 19h45’11” 33’38”
112 PICHON Laurent FDJ FRA 19h45’54” 34’21”
113 BROWN Graeme DPC AUS 19h45’57” 34’24”
114 KEIZER Martijn TLJ NED 19h46’20” 34’47”
115 AREGGER Marcel IAM SUI 19h47’08” 35’35”
116 BLYTHE Adam TNK GBR 19h48’07” 36’34”
117 FISCHER Murilo FDJ BRA 19h48’23” 36’50”
118 DE KORT Koen TGA NED 19h48’29” 36’56”
119 RENSHAW Mark DDD AUS 19h48’57” 37’24”
120 *MARTINELLI Davide EQS ITA 19h49’17” 37’44”
121 RIBLON Christophe ALM FRA 19h49’29” 37’56”
122 REIJNEN Kiel TFS USA 19h50’18” 38’45”
123 GATTO Oscar TNK ITA 19h50’38” 39’05”
124 *EWAN Caleb OGE AUS 19h50’57” 39’24”
125 *GOUGEARD Alexis ALM FRA 19h52’14” 40’41”
126 DE BACKER Bert TGA BEL 19h52’18” 40’45”
127 VAUGRENARD Benoit FDJ FRA 19h55’39” 44’06”
128 WIPPERT Wouter CPT NED 19h55’45” 44’12”
129 KLUGE Roger IAM GER 19h56’09” 44’36”
130 JI Cheng TGA CHN 19h59’49” 48’16”
131 FARRAR Tyler DDD USA 20h00’44” 49’11”
132 KUMP Marko LAM SLO 20h01’45” 50’12”
133 ISAYCHEV Vladimir KAT RUS 20h03’44” 52’11”
134 *HEPBURN Michael OGE AUS 20h06’46” 55’13”

 

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