Santos Tour Down Under: stage 6 report and photos

On the first of today’s 18 laps Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Angelo Tulik (Europcar) and Will Clarke (Drapac) made their escape from the main field, the last of whom was in his third breakaway of the race’s six stages.

And just as it looked like the trio was about to settle in and start building a bit of a lead, Tulik crashed heavily on a right-hand bend and abandoned the race. Belkov, who’d been behind Tulik at the time, had to fight hard to catch up with Clarke who was riding alone at the front of the race.

Behind them Julien Berard (AG2r) was escaping from the peloton and soon joined the leaders as their gap started to widen. Back in the Orica-GreenEDGE-controlled main field Simon Gerrans would have been more than happy to see the break’s advantage grow — with three riders up the road, all of the time bonuses available at the first intermediate sprint would be accounted for and Cadel Evans (and others) wouldn’t be able to claw back at his lead.

On lap three Luke Durbridge came to the front of the bunch to do some work for Gerrans, as he’s done so often this week. And later in the lap Team Sky made their way forward, increasing the pace ahead of the first intermediate sprint after six laps, presumably in an attempt to snaffle some bonus seconds for fourth-placed Richie Porte.

But even after a couple of laps at the pointy end of the main field, Sky was unable to put a meaningful dent in the advantage Clarke, Belkov and Berard had built for themselves.

Ahead of the first intermediate sprint Will Clarke got a rear puncture and was forced to chase back to the leaders after a slow wheel change. Berard was first to the intermediate sprint point, picking up five sprint points and three bonus seconds, with Belkov taking three points and two seconds, and Clarke, a few seconds behind, taking the remaining two points and one bonus second.

By lap eight of 18 it was Luke Durbridge back on the front for Orica-GreenEDGE while the breakaway riders had two minutes up their sleeve. With Orica-GreenEDGE controlling the pace there was no real chance of the break being chased down before the second intermediate sprint after 12 laps. Belkov crossed that point first, ahead of Berard and Clark and at that point it looked almost certain that Simon Gerrans would win the Santos Tour Down Under … if it hadn’t already.

With five laps to go the break was down to 1:20 as yesterday’s main aggressor Jens Voigt and his Trek Factory Racing team took up the chase. With 22km to go in the race the gap was down below a minute and with 16km to go — little more than three laps — the leaders only had 20 seconds.

With BMC and Orica-GreenEDGE working overtime the peloton was strung right out and riders were steadily being spat out the back. The leaders were caught on lap 16, with roughly 10km to go in the race, as a line of six Orica-GreenEDGE riders flew by, Michael Matthews at the helm.

On the following (and penultimate lap) Danilo Wyss helped Cadel Evans to move to the front of the field while Richie Porte too was well-placed on the opposite site of the bunch. A Cannondale train came to the front as well, in support of their sprinter Elia Viviani, as did Giant-Shimano in support of Marcel Kittel.

With about 1km to go Omega Pharma-QuickStep took up the charge with Mark Renshaw positioned ahead of the team’s promising British sprinter Andrew Fenn. And then with 900m to go, the Marcel Sieberg-led Lotto-Belisol sprint train flew past, Andre Greipel perfectly poised in third wheel.

One by one Greipel’s teammates peeled off and when the German national champion jumped, nobody could stop him. Greipel powered through to take his second stage win at this year’s Santos Tour Down Under and his 16th overall, an all-time record.

Renshaw finished second ahead of his teammate Fenn, while Koen de Kort (Giant-Shimano) came through for fourth after Marcel Kittel found himself off the back and unable to contest the final sprint. Jonathan Cantwell capped off a solid Tour Down Under for his new Drapac team, finishing fifth.

Behind the sprinters the GC-contenders were crossing the line more or less together. Nathan Haas (7th), Simon Gerrans (11th), Robert Gesink (22nd), Diego Ulissi (23rd), Cadel Evans (24th) and Richie Porte (26th) all finished with the same time, ensuring there was no change to the top-10 in the general classification.

Before the stage Simon Gerrans had spoken about how he saw third-placed Diego Ulissi (five seconds back on GC) as more of a threat to his overall lead than Cadel Evans, who was only a single second behind. But a couple hours of smart and sensible riding from the Orica-GreenEDGE squad ensured that all threats to Gerrans’ lead were neutralised.

The overall win makes Simon Gerrans the first rider to win the Tour Down Under on three separate occasions (2006, 2012 & 2014). He also takes home the sprint classification jersey after winning stage 1, picking up a handful of high-placed finishes — second on stage 2, fifth on stage 3, fourth on stage 4 and third on stage 5 — and taking a few intermediate sprint points along the way.

In the KOM classification Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) took the lead after being first up Menglers Hill on stage 1 and he never relinquished it. Jack Haig (UniSA/Australia) showed the world that he’s going to be a star of the future, winning the best young rider classification by more than a minute. Haig took the lead on stage 4 when he made the day’s decisive split while overnight leader Kenny Elissonde (FDJ.fr) didn’t.

Haig was able to mark his nearest rival Carlos Verona (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) on the final climb up Willunga Hill yesterday to secure the white jersey for his UniSA/Australia team.

In the team’s classification it was Orica-GreenEDGE who took the final honours ahead of BMC while Drapac more than justified their wildcard invite, finishing an impressive third on teams classification and being visible in almost every breakaway throughout the race.

But the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under truly belongs to Simon Gerrans. He took the overall lead on stage 1 after outsprinting Andre Greipel into Angaston and held on to it after stage 2. On stage 3 Cadel Evans put in arguably the most memorable ride of the race, tearing up Corkscrew Road to win the stage and take the ochre jersey off Simon Gerrans.

Evans held the lead after stage 4 finished with a sprint in Victor Harbor but on stage 5 Gerrans took the lead back on the famous Willunga Hill. Whether it was a mistake by Evans or the superiority of Orica-GreenEDGE that influenced the result, Gerrans was back in ochre and he wouldn’t let it go on today’s final stage.

The last time Simon Gerrans won the Australian nationals road race and the Tour Down Under in one season (2012) he went on to win Milan-San Remo just a few months later. It will be with interest that we watch the man from Mansfield’s progress as the 2014 season unfolds. One thing that has changed from previous years is that the Tour of Flanders will be one of Gerrans’ targets this season.

[rrsumm raceid=1290]

: Going into the final stage Trek Factory Racing’s highest-placed GC rider was Laurent Didier in 40th place. Jens Voigt’s TV time has arguably been the highlight of the race for Trek.

: Richie Porte has a chat to Robbie McEwen before the final stage.

: Simon Gerrans and his Orica-GreenEDGE squad went into the final stage feeling confident about defending the race lead.

: Stage 1 breakaway companions Neil van der Ploeg (UniSA/Australia) and Will Clarke (Drapac) head to the start.

: It’s a contract year for Jack Bobridge, so expect him to be in fighting form this season.

: Japanese national road race champion, Yukiya Arashiro soaks up some media attention. The woman taking the photo is his wife who travels to many of the races with him.

: Lachlan Morton, Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) and Calvin Watson (Trek) at the startline.

: The classification leaders line up at the start. From left to right: Simon Gerrans (GC), Jack Haig (best young rider), Adam Hansen (KOM) and Diego Ulissi (points). Ulissi was actually second in the points classification but wore the jersey because the classification leader, Simon Gerrans, was in the leader’s ochre jersey.

: Andre Greipel with the finish line in sight. He won stage 4 into Victor Harbor and was keen for a second stage win.

: And they’re off!

: Richie Porte could either be smiling or grimacing here. It’s always hard to tell.

: Russian Maxim Belkov (Katusha) crashed over the top of Europcar’s Angelo Tulik 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.

: The day’s main breakaway: Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Will Clarke (Drapac) and Julien Berard (AG2r).

: Simon Clarke licks his lips at the prospect of riding at the head of the field for the final stage.

: Calvin Watson is in his second Tour Down Under and his first season in the WorldTour with Trek.

: Jens Voigt came to the front late in the race at the head of the Trek train but they were quickly usurped by Cannondale and later Lotto-Belisol.

: Yukiya Arashiro loses contact with the bunch.

: Andre Greipel takes a comfortable win on the final stage, taking his record-breaking tally to 16 Tour Down Under stage wins.

: Cadel Evans finished the race second overall, just one second behind Simon Gerrans.

: Diego Ulissi finished in third place after an impressive week that included a win on stage 2.

: Adam Hansen took the KOM leader’s jersey on stage 1 and never relinquished it.

: Will Clarke was awarded the Most Competitive Rider for the third day after his efforts in the breakaway.

: Jack Haig was impressive all week, particularly on the climbs up Corkscrew Road and Old Willunga Road.

: Orica-GreenEDGE took out the teams classification, capping off a dominant week for the Australian squad.

: As Gerro always says, winners are grinners!

Reids70

What a fantastic week of cycling in SA, always gets better every year, now sadness and depression sets in when you have to go back to work and reality of life! Only 358 days until next TDU i guess!
AngeD

What a fantastic event. My first trip to SA for the TDU. I’ll be back again that’s for sure. Just an absolutely fantastic week of racing. The crowd at Corkscrew Rd and Cadel flying up it will be etched in my mind forever.
At the end of the days racing i’ve been reading every stage report on CT and i have to congratulate you guys on the efforts and the marvelous pictures, the 2nd best thing to being there.
Cheers.
kiwiinAus

Great to see such high calibre riders in SA and to be there when Cadel was attacking corkscrew and Richie was riding away up Willunga. However, a couple of comments from the week. Is Matt White the only director who has an overall plan then adjusts it as necessary during the week? Some of the team directors (read BMC, Sky, Garmin, Lampre) let their teams down, in my opinion, while Trek’s only plan was send Jens up the road. They sat back and let Greenedge dictate tactics and relied on their key riders’ ability to climb hills. If Porte and Evans are targeting the Giro I hope they have better plans. Just saying…
- Patriotwithtongueincheek
  
  It was Matt White that said Gerro couldn’t be dropped right? So let’s not blow too much smoke up his way. Let’s also not forget that this race is important to Australians, and few others. It’s a long way for Pro Tour teams to come, and it suits those with riders who are looking for a hit out before the classics. You’ll never see the likes of Cav, Wiggins, Froome, Quintanna, Contador, Nibali etc here… In the scheme of things, this race is really a 2.1±
  Loving my first Australia day, a great reminder of the day Great Britain declared sovereignty over these islands, and allowed this country to become great. A reminder of that in the top left corner of the national flag.
  - echidna_sg
    
    The win is worth 100 UCI points - the same as the monuments and only bettered by the grand tours… so in reality you couldn’t be more wrong about it being UCI 2.1+.
    - Dave
      
      Over-classification of races is a big problem.
      
      Look at the Tour of Britain for example, with the results you see (oh my goodness, another Team Sky rider won a ToB stage! What an unforeseen surprise!) it should be downgraded from 2.1 to a Post-Tour Crit.
      - Sean
        
        Yeah you’re right Dave, bitter about life much bro?
  - echidna_sg
    
    http://www.uciworldtour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTY3Mzc&LangId=1
- Bring Back Klein
  
  Congrats to Gerro, well deserved, but it showed again how little support Cadel gets from his DS and team. Stage 4 to Victor Harbour.. EVERYONE knew Gerro would chase bonuses to make up time on Evans so where were the BMC sprinters contesting with Gerro at the intermediate sprints to stop him getting them? Surely they have one sprinter instead of Evans having to do it. Or why weren’t one or two BMC guys up the road in the break to get the bonuses..they didnt need to sit on the front Evans as OGE where always going to drive it. And the same at the finish, Gerro gets more bonus time with no BMC in sight! Its been the same for years at the TDU..everytime they hit a major climb Cadel was totally isolated with no teammates… But agree with KiwiinAus, trying to spot well worked tactics from the teams other OGE and Lotto would be hard work !
  - echidna_sg
    
    BMC sprinters? they don’t pretend they have any and haven’t since their inception in the world tour as the team is built around the classics and GT gc aspirations.
    
    Agree Cadel gets insufficient support, but its also nothing new and I think there will always be an element of what if he had a better team around him for the past 10 years, but it is what it is - an incredible career even without a super supporting cast the likes of which almost any pro in history would happily retire with!
    - Dave
      
      I don’t buy the “what if he had a better team” nonsense for the same reason I don’t buy it with Mark Webber’s journeyman F1 career.
      
      Australian sporting fans need to realise that (outside of cricket) there is always going to be big gap between top domestic standard and elite international level.
      - echidna_sg
        
        are you saying cadel is merely a top domestic standard rider? or webber is mere pack fodder in F1? the vast proportion of F1 drivers and pro cyclists (never mind the mere hacks that trundle around) retire never having stood on the podium of the pointy end of a global sport… Sure neither were dominant, but its exceptionally rare for a cyclist to win/podium much more than Cadel has across such a period of time (possibly 10-20 in GT history?) and thats without considering the number of his competitors that have been outed for being on the juice at one point or another.
        
        Dave
        
        No, Cadel is definitely international quality.
        
        However, all this talk of “he could have been so much greater if [insert excuse here]” is still all based on people working on the premise that he’s the best Australian so he should therefore be the best in the world - and if he isn’t then others must be cheating.
        
        The same applies to the “Cadel is clean” stuff - what basis is there for it other than he’s an Aussie and Aussies don’t cheat (except for Hodge, Stephens, White, EPO’Grady and Clenbutador’s best buddy Rogers) but come on, a Telekom rider from the early 00′s now riding for a Jim Ochowicz is 100% clean? Reeeeeeeaaaaally.
        
        Caleb Ewan faces the same fate - a hot young Aussie talent being over-talked here in Australia. He’s up for a rough few years of “why did Caleb fail” talk every time he loses a sprint.
        
        Webber? A good endurance driver but not fearless enough to push it in F1, and he looked half-decent for a few years because he had the hottest chariot and was occasionally able to pick up the pieces when Vettel failed. I don’t ever remember him putting in a brilliant performance to earn a position the car didn’t deserve.
    - 900Aero
      
      Thor or Phil Gil would have made things interesting though.
- Michele
  
  In defense of both BMC and Team Sky, there is a point that needs to be remembered: what their season-long objectives are.
  
  OGE stated right from the outset that the National RR Title and the TDU were major objectives for the team this year.
  
  I have no doubt Evans and Porte tried to win both events but it wasn’t the be-all and end-all of their years.
  
  The 3rd week of January is a long way from the Dolomites in late May. Both BMC and Sky have “better plans” for the Giro.
  
  Also keep in mind that Evans and Porte’s teammates pre-season training wouldn’t have been as advanced as OGE. Australian and Australian based riders form has also been a little more advanced at the TDU. That is why OGE could dictate terms throughout the week.
krashdavage

Gerrans is from Jamieson, not Mansfield Ed.
Bigguy

I spent 2 weeks in Adelaide and stage 6 was the most boring day by far. There was no atmosphere in the CBD streets and the race itself was boring. I cannot speak for those sitting in the finish straight but I hope they don’t do the same again next year.
Tom

Here’s Andre Greipel’s SRM data synced with the finish video:
http://suffervision.appspot.com/v/2684001

Impressive 1900 watt pop at the end!

Santos Tour Down Under: stage 6 report and photos

by Matt de Neef - January 26, 2014