Rohan Dennis flies to stage 3 win and overall lead in the Tour Down Under

ADELAIDE, Australia (CT) – Today’s 143.2km third stage of the Santos Tour Down Under began in warm conditions in the suburb of Norwood in Adelaide’s inner east. After a neutral zone of more than 7km the race began with a long uphill drag into the Adelaide Hills, for the second day in a row.

After an initial flurry of activity in which several riders attempted to break clear, it was Will Clarke (Drapac) — one of the main aggressors in last year’s race — who moved off the front of the race and got the breakaway started.

“This morning it was either me or (team mate) Travis Meyer who’d go away,” Clarke said after the stage. “He got pulled back after I tried first so it was my turn.”

Clarke was joined a few kilometres later by Calvin Watson (Trek), Axel Domont (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Lasse Norman Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin).

The peloton seemed content with the composition of the break and allowed the gap to grow. After 8.5km of racing the four leaders had 1:45 over the main field and after 14km it was out to 2:35 with Sky and UniSA-Australia controlling the peloton for Richie Porte and overall leader Jack Bobridge respectively.

Having headed east out of Adelaide to Birdwood and then south towards Mount Torrens, the four leaders enjoyed a maximum advantage of 3:30 after 41km of racing. But by the time the race reached the town of Lobathal to start three laps of a 25.7km circuit through Lenswood, Woodside and Charleston, the gap was starting to come down, courtesy of Team Sky.

The four riders had less than three minutes when Will Clarke took the first intermediate sprint in Charleston after 67.4km (five points, three bonus seconds), with Hansen second (three points, two seconds) and Domont third (two points, one second).

stage3map

With the temperature hovering around 34 degrees on the roads east of Adelaide, the four leaders extended their lead out beyond three minutes again, but it wasn’t long before it started trending in the opposite direction once more.

With Sky, UniSA-Australia and now Movistar controlling the bunch the gap was down to 2:40 after 87km of racing.

In a mirror image of the first sprint, Will Clarke beat Lasse Norman Hansen and Axel Domont in the second intermediate sprint in Charleston. Domont, meanwhile, was struggling in the break. With roughly 100km covered and 40km remaining — including one lap of the Lobethal circuit — Domont was dropped from the breakaway and started drifting back to the peloton.

At the third and final intermediate sprint Clarke again took maximum points, with Hansen and Watson picking up the minor placings. At that stage the three-rider lead group was slowly being reeled back in by the Movistar- and Sky-led peloton, their advantage down at 2:25.

With 20km to the finish the gap was down to 1:35 despite the best efforts of the three leaders. Hansen was the next to be shed from the lead group while the gap to the group continued to drop, reaching one minute with 18km left to race.

Calvin Watson sat up in the break with 15km to go — seemingly on team orders — leaving Will Clarke alone at the front of the race. He stayed there for the next 6km but with 9.2km still to race, in the small town of Cudlee Creek, he was swept up and the race was back together. His efforts in the break would see him receive the award for the most competitive rider.

Inside the final 10km the riders bombed down Cudlee Creek Road and Gorge Road, just as they had on stage 1 en route to the finish in Campbelltown. The bunch flew down the technical descent in excess of 60km/h, Team Sky and Giant-Alpecin stringing out the peloton as the final climb approached.

stage3profile

Riders started popping off the back of the bunch as the road ramped up and when the race turned right to begin the steepest section of the climb, on Torrens Hill Road, the bunch exploded.

Richie Porte (Sky) attacked from the front group with 1.2km left to race — and 800m before the KOM line — with only Cadel Evans, Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) able to follow for any length of time. Porte tried another attack that was quickly marked by Evans while a little further down the hill overnight leader Jack Bobridge faded well out of contention.

With the top of the climb in sight, and despite having his team leader in the lead group just ahead, Rohan Dennis attacked from the splintered bunch, powering past Evans and Porte just before the KOM line. Dennis took the 16 points on offer at the KOM and continued on towards the finish of the stage just 400m up the road.

By the time the 24-year-old crossed the finish line he’d opened enough of a gap to win the stage by three seconds, his teammate Evans crossing the line second after overhauling Dumoulin in sight of the line.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to win,” said Dennis of his stage victory. “The plan was for me to attack halfway into the climb but I was too far back to follow the plan.

“I have the ochre (leader’s) jersey now but Cadel and I are still both protected,” he explained. “There’s still Willunga (Stage 5) and a lot of racing to come.”

The victory and the 10 bonus seconds that came with it see Rohan Dennis move into the overall lead, seven seconds ahead of teammate Cadel Evans. It’s an interesting development in the race, not least because most predicted Cadel Evans would be the BMC rider to beat at this year’s race. What BMC will do from here on will be interesting to observe.

It’s also interesting to note that, ahead of their respective attempts at the hour record in the next few weeks, both Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis have won a stage at and led the Tour Down Under this year.

By cresting the Torrens Hill Road KOM first Rohan Dennis now also leads the KOM classification, but Pozzovivo will wear the polka dot jersey. Dennis also leads the best young rider classification but Tom Dumoulin will wear the white jersey.

Cadel Evans now leads the points classification and BMC, in what was an exceptional day for the team, also leads the team classification.

Tomorrow’s fourth stage of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under takes the riders 144.5km from Glenelg to Mount Barker in a stage that is expected to end in a bunch sprint.

Click here to see our report from stage 1 of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under, and here to see our report from stage 2.

Photo gallery

: Today’s stage started in the suburb of Norwood in Adelaide’s inner east.

: Jack Bobridge signs on at the start of his second day in the ochre leader’s jersey.

: SBS’s veteran cycling presenter Mike Tomalaris with a fan.

: Speaking of fans, Marcel Kittel is never short of attention.

: Rohan Dennis poses with some fans of his own before the stage start. He’d have even more to smile about roughly four hours later.

: Will Clarke initiated the day’s main breakaway …

: … and was later joined by Axel Domont (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Calvin Watson (Trek Factory Racing) and Lasse Norman Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin).

: The break enjoyed a maximum advantage of 3:30 but the peloton wasn’t about to let another stage go the way of a breakaway.

: Sky, Movistar and UniSA-Australia did much of the chasing in the main field.

: BMC massed around Cadel Evans in the lead-up to the final climb.

: Evans was able to react when Richie Porte attacked on the final climb.

: But it was Rohan Dennis that came from the chase group and powered past the four leaders …

: … taking the stage win by three seconds.

: Behind Dennis, Cadel Evans was overpowering Tom Domoulin to take second place.

: Will Clarke of Drapac earned the award for the most competitive rider after his efforts in the breakaway.

: Cadel Evans will wear the red jersey of the points classification leader on stage 4.

: Rohan Dennis, meanwhile, moves into the overall lead. With Dennis and Evans holding the first two places on the general classification, BMC has plenty of options with three stages left in the race.

Race results

Go to: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Santos Tour Down Under

Stage 3

: Norwood > Paracombe

Thursday 22nd January (2015)

Classification: 2.UWT

Category: Int. Men

Distance: 143.2km

Stage Result

1.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	03:35:08
2.	EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team	0:03
3.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	-
4.	BOUET Maxime Etixx - Quick Step	0:05
5.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	-
6.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	-
7.	HAIG Jack	-
8.	FERNANDEZ Ruben Movistar Team	-
9.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	-
10.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	0:13
11.	SANCHEZ Luis Leon Astana Pro Team	0:15
12.	GRMAY Tsgabu Lampre - Merida	-
13.	MACHADO Tiago Team Katusha	-
14.	PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson IAM Cycling	0:18
15.	BENNETT George Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
16.	BéRARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale	-
17.	IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE	-
18.	HANSEN Adam Lotto Soudal	0:21
19.	IZAGIRRE Gorka Movistar Team	-
20.	HAAS Nathan Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
21.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Soudal	-
22.	CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team	-
23.	STETINA Peter BMC Racing Team	-
24.	MORI Manuele Lampre - Merida	0:27
25.	HERRADA José Movistar Team	0:35
26.	ZAUGG Oliver Tinkoff - Saxo	0:42
27.	HANSEN Jesper Tinkoff - Saxo	-
28.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	-
29.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	-
30.	JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ	-
31.	DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Etixx - Quick Step	-
32.	DIDIER Laurent Trek Factory Racing	-
33.	LAGUTIN Sergey Team Katusha	-
34.	TANNER David IAM Cycling	-
35.	ROY Jérémy FDJ	-
36.	VILLELLA Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
37.	HESJEDAL Ryder Team Cannondale - Garmin	0:50
38.	MC CONNELL Daniel Trek Factory Racing	-
39.	VELITS Martin Etixx - Quick Step	-
40.	MALACARNE Davide Astana Pro Team	-
41.	POWER Robert	-
42.	LINDEMAN Bert-Jan Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
43.	SERRY Pieter Etixx - Quick Step	1:10
44.	DOCKX Gert Lotto Soudal	1:14
45.	JUUL-JENSEN Christopher Tinkoff - Saxo	-
46.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	-
47.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	-
48.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	-
49.	TSATEVICH Alexey Team Katusha	1:24
50.	MOSER Moreno Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:28
51.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	-
52.	REYNES MIMO Vicente IAM Cycling	-
53.	SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team	1:59
54.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	-
55.	ROOSEN Timo Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
56.	KERBY Jordan Drapac Professional Cycling	-
57.	HENDERSON Gregory Lotto Soudal	-
58.	LE GAC Olivier FDJ	-
59.	CARUSO Giampaolo Team Katusha	-
60.	DURASEK Kristijan Lampre - Merida	-
61.	DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal	-
62.	TLEUBAYEV Ruslan Astana Pro Team	-
63.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	-
64.	LASTRAS Pablo Movistar Team	-
65.	CLEMENT Stef IAM Cycling	2:09
66.	ROULSTON Hayden Trek Factory Racing	-
67.	DILLIER Silvan BMC Racing Team	-
68.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	2:28
69.	MEYER Travis Drapac Professional Cycling	2:32
70.	SCOTSON Miles	-
71.	BOARO Manuele Tinkoff - Saxo	2:37
72.	PINEAU Cédric FDJ	2:53
73.	CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ	-
74.	MEERSMAN Gianni Etixx - Quick Step	-
75.	BRUTT Pavel Tinkoff - Saxo	3:12
76.	HAYMAN Mathew Orica GreenEDGE	-
77.	VON HOFF Steele NFTO	3:14
78.	EDMONDSON Alexander	-
79.	WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team	-
80.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	-
81.	ROE Thimothy Drapac Professional Cycling	-
82.	KEIZER Martijn Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
83.	BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE	3:26
84.	RENSHAW Mark Etixx - Quick Step	3:31
85.	ALAFACI Eugenio Trek Factory Racing	-
86.	HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling	-
87.	KOHLER Martin Drapac Professional Cycling	-
88.	ISAYCHEV Vladimir Team Katusha	-
89.	TJALLINGII Maarten Team LottoNL-Jumbo	3:35
90.	LAMPAERT Yves Etixx - Quick Step	-
91.	MARKUS Barry Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
92.	STANNARD Ian Team Sky	-
93.	HAGA Chad Team Giant - Alpecin	-
94.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	-
95.	HOWES Alex Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
96.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant - Alpecin	3:54
97.	DEHAES Kenny Lotto Soudal	-
98.	BOOM Lars Astana Pro Team	3:59
99.	DE VREESE Laurens Astana Pro Team	4:34
100.	VEIKKANEN Jussi FDJ	-
101.	KLUGE Roger IAM Cycling	-
102.	BAUER Jack Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
103.	CATALDO Dario Astana Pro Team	-
104.	KENNAUGH Peter Team Sky	4:37
105.	FLENS Rick Team LottoNL-Jumbo	4:42
106.	ROWE Luke Team Sky	5:01
107.	BONO Matteo Lampre - Merida	5:18
108.	BONIFAZIO Niccolo Lampre - Merida	-
109.	SELIG Rüdiger Team Katusha	5:48
110.	CRADDOCK Lawson Team Giant - Alpecin	-
111.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	6:12
112.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre - Merida	7:12
113.	FERRARI Roberto Lampre - Merida	-
114.	CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling	7:37
115.	TIMMER Albert Team Giant - Alpecin	-
116.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	7:52
117.	GOUGEARD Alexis AG2R La Mondiale	-
118.	BROWN Graeme Drapac Professional Cycling	-
119.	VALLéE Boris Lotto Soudal	8:35
120.	KITTEL Marcel Team Giant - Alpecin	-
121.	VAN DER PLOEG Neil Avanti Racing Team	-
122.	MANZIN Lorrenzo FDJ	8:42
123.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	11:35
124.	PUCCIO Salvatore Team Sky	-
125.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	-
126.	NIZZOLO Giacomo Trek Factory Racing	-
127.	SUTTON Chris Team Sky	-
128.	SANZ Enrique Movistar Team	-
129.	COLEDAN Marco Trek Factory Racing	-
130.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	-
131.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	-
DNS.	FLAKEMORE Campbell BMC Racing Team	-

General Classification

1.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	10:17:06
2.	EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team	0:07
3.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	0:09
4.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	0:15
5.	HAIG Jack	-
6.	FERNANDEZ Ruben Movistar Team	-
7.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	-
8.	BOUET Maxime Etixx - Quick Step	-
9.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	-
10.	IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE	0:22
11.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	0:23
12.	SANCHEZ Luis Leon Astana Pro Team	0:25
13.	MACHADO Tiago Team Katusha	-
14.	GRMAY Tsgabu Lampre - Merida	-
15.	IZAGIRRE Gorka Movistar Team	0:27
16.	BENNETT George Team LottoNL-Jumbo	0:28
17.	BéRARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale	-
18.	PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson IAM Cycling	-
19.	HAAS Nathan Team Cannondale - Garmin	0:31
20.	HANSEN Adam Lotto Soudal	-
21.	CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team	-
22.	STETINA Peter BMC Racing Team	-
23.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Soudal	-
24.	MORI Manuele Lampre - Merida	0:37
25.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	0:39
26.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	0:43
27.	HERRADA José Movistar Team	0:45
28.	TANNER David IAM Cycling	0:52
29.	LAGUTIN Sergey Team Katusha	-
30.	JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ	-
31.	HANSEN Jesper Tinkoff - Saxo	-
32.	ROY Jérémy FDJ	-
33.	LINDEMAN Bert-Jan Team LottoNL-Jumbo	1:00
34.	MC CONNELL Daniel Trek Factory Racing	-
35.	DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Etixx - Quick Step	1:17
36.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	1:24
37.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	-
38.	JUUL-JENSEN Christopher Tinkoff - Saxo	-
39.	POWER Robert	1:25
40.	VILLELLA Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:26
41.	TSATEVICH Alexey Team Katusha	1:34
42.	HESJEDAL Ryder Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
43.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	1:38
44.	MOSER Moreno Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
45.	VELITS Martin Etixx - Quick Step	1:52
46.	ZAUGG Oliver Tinkoff - Saxo	1:59
47.	DIDIER Laurent Trek Factory Racing	-
48.	REYNES MIMO Vicente IAM Cycling	2:06
49.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	2:09
50.	DURASEK Kristijan Lampre - Merida	-
51.	MALACARNE Davide Astana Pro Team	2:33
52.	LASTRAS Pablo Movistar Team	2:41
53.	MEYER Travis Drapac Professional Cycling	2:42
54.	ROULSTON Hayden Trek Factory Racing	2:51
55.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	2:58
56.	MEERSMAN Gianni Etixx - Quick Step	3:03
57.	DOCKX Gert Lotto Soudal	3:05
58.	CARUSO Giampaolo Team Katusha	3:06
59.	ROE Thimothy Drapac Professional Cycling	3:24
60.	HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling	3:41
61.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	3:42
62.	SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team	-
63.	ROOSEN Timo Team LottoNL-Jumbo	3:45
64.	LE GAC Olivier FDJ	-
65.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	-
66.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	3:51
67.	CLEMENT Stef IAM Cycling	3:52
68.	HAYMAN Mathew Orica GreenEDGE	4:08
69.	PINEAU Cédric FDJ	4:10
70.	WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team	4:31
71.	VEIKKANEN Jussi FDJ	4:44
72.	CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ	4:52
73.	KEIZER Martijn Team LottoNL-Jumbo	5:00
74.	HAGA Chad Team Giant - Alpecin	5:06
75.	STANNARD Ian Team Sky	5:11
76.	SERRY Pieter Etixx - Quick Step	5:12
77.	BOOM Lars Astana Pro Team	5:16
78.	CATALDO Dario Astana Pro Team	5:18
79.	BONIFAZIO Niccolo Lampre - Merida	5:28
80.	DILLIER Silvan BMC Racing Team	5:35
81.	HOWES Alex Team Cannondale - Garmin	5:54
82.	KENNAUGH Peter Team Sky	-
83.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant - Alpecin	6:10
84.	TLEUBAYEV Ruslan Astana Pro Team	6:55
85.	BOARO Manuele Tinkoff - Saxo	6:57
86.	BAUER Jack Team Cannondale - Garmin	6:58
87.	VON HOFF Steele NFTO	7:34
88.	DE VREESE Laurens Astana Pro Team	7:44
89.	ISAYCHEV Vladimir Team Katusha	7:51
90.	HENDERSON Gregory Lotto Soudal	7:57
91.	LAMPAERT Yves Etixx - Quick Step	8:14
92.	CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling	8:29
93.	EDMONDSON Alexander	9:12
94.	BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE	9:24
95.	ALAFACI Eugenio Trek Factory Racing	9:29
96.	RENSHAW Mark Etixx - Quick Step	9:46
97.	KLUGE Roger IAM Cycling	10:32
98.	FLENS Rick Team LottoNL-Jumbo	10:40
99.	BRUTT Pavel Tinkoff - Saxo	11:18
100.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre - Merida	11:32
101.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	11:35
102.	TIMMER Albert Team Giant - Alpecin	11:44
103.	BONO Matteo Lampre - Merida	12:02
104.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	12:09
105.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	12:31
106.	KOHLER Martin Drapac Professional Cycling	13:31
107.	VAN DER PLOEG Neil Avanti Racing Team	14:33
108.	ROWE Luke Team Sky	15:01
109.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	15:13
110.	BROWN Graeme Drapac Professional Cycling	15:18
111.	DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal	15:46
112.	SCOTSON Miles	16:25
113.	DEHAES Kenny Lotto Soudal	18:12
114.	TJALLINGII Maarten Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
115.	PUCCIO Salvatore Team Sky	18:51
116.	MANZIN Lorrenzo FDJ	19:04
117.	SELIG Rüdiger Team Katusha	20:01
118.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	-
119.	CRADDOCK Lawson Team Giant - Alpecin	20:58
120.	KERBY Jordan Drapac Professional Cycling	22:03
121.	KITTEL Marcel Team Giant - Alpecin	22:28
122.	COLEDAN Marco Trek Factory Racing	23:24
123.	FERRARI Roberto Lampre - Merida	23:32
124.	MARKUS Barry Team LottoNL-Jumbo	23:33
125.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	25:26
126.	SUTTON Chris Team Sky	25:28
127.	SANZ Enrique Movistar Team	25:45
128.	GOUGEARD Alexis AG2R La Mondiale	27:56
129.	VALLéE Boris Lotto Soudal	28:39
130.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	31:21
131.	NIZZOLO Giacomo Trek Factory Racing	31:39

Mountains Classification

1.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	16
2.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	12
3.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	10
4.	DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal	10
5.	EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team	8
6.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	6
7.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	6
8.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	4
9.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	4
10.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	4
11.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	2
12.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	2
13.	SCOTSON Miles	2
14.	SCOTSON Miles	2

Points Classification

1.	EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team	25
2.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	25
3.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	24
4.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	20
5.	IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE	20
6.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	19
7.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	19
8.	BONIFAZIO Niccolo Lampre - Merida	19
9.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	18
10.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	17
11.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	15
12.	CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling	15
13.	IZAGIRRE Gorka Movistar Team	13
14.	BOUET Maxime Etixx - Quick Step	12
15.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	11
16.	DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal	10
17.	SANCHEZ Luis Leon Astana Pro Team	10
18.	MEERSMAN Gianni Etixx - Quick Step	10
19.	HAIG Jack	9
20.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	9
21.	FERNANDEZ Ruben Movistar Team	8
22.	HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling	8
23.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	7
24.	HAAS Nathan Team Cannondale - Garmin	7
25.	VON HOFF Steele NFTO	7
26.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	6
27.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	6
28.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	6
29.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	4
30.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	2
31.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	2

Youth Classification

1.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	10:17:06
2.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	0:09
3.	HAIG Jack	0:15
4.	FERNANDEZ Ruben Movistar Team	-
5.	GRMAY Tsgabu Lampre - Merida	0:25
6.	BENNETT George Team LottoNL-Jumbo	0:28
7.	HANSEN Jesper Tinkoff - Saxo	0:52
8.	POWER Robert	1:25
9.	VILLELLA Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:26
10.	MOSER Moreno Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:38
11.	ROOSEN Timo Team LottoNL-Jumbo	3:45
12.	LE GAC Olivier FDJ	-
13.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	3:51
14.	BONIFAZIO Niccolo Lampre - Merida	5:28
15.	DILLIER Silvan BMC Racing Team	5:35
16.	LAMPAERT Yves Etixx - Quick Step	8:14
17.	EDMONDSON Alexander	9:12
18.	ALAFACI Eugenio Trek Factory Racing	9:29
19.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	12:09
20.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	12:31
21.	ROWE Luke Team Sky	15:01
22.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	15:13
23.	SCOTSON Miles	16:25
24.	MANZIN Lorrenzo FDJ	19:04
25.	CRADDOCK Lawson Team Giant - Alpecin	20:58
26.	KERBY Jordan Drapac Professional Cycling	22:03
27.	MARKUS Barry Team LottoNL-Jumbo	23:33
28.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	25:26
29.	GOUGEARD Alexis AG2R La Mondiale	27:56
30.	VALLéE Boris Lotto Soudal	28:39
31.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	31:21

Teams Classification

1.	BMC Racing Team	30:52:12
2.	Movistar Team	0:23
3.	Tinkoff - Saxo	1:05
4.	AG2R La Mondiale	1:13
5.	UniSA-Australia	1:38
6.	Etixx - Quick Step	-
7.	Astana Pro Team	1:57
8.	Team Katusha	-
9.	Team Cannondale - Garmin	2:03
10.	IAM Cycling	2:04
11.	Lotto Soudal	-
12.	Lampre - Merida	2:17
13.	Orica GreenEDGE	2:56
14.	FDJ	2:59
15.	Team LottoNL-Jumbo	4:19
16.	Team Giant - Alpecin	4:34
17.	Trek Factory Racing	4:56
18.	Team Sky	5:51
19.	Drapac Professional Cycling	7:55

Bob

Well, this is awkward.
- 900Aero
  
  Or very clever. Means the other teams have to mark two BMC riders now. Both capable of winning. BMC are in a great position.
lefthandside

Great day for Rohan Dennis, finishing both first and third in the young riders classification…oh.. hang on
- winkybiker
  
  And TD both 2nd and 4th!
echidna_sg

Assuming all things remain as they are (a stupid statement to make I know!) the sentimental me says, BMC should let cuddles win his last WT event, the pragmatic me says BMC will need the 100 WT points that possible victory carries into 2016 rankings..
- Robert Merkel
  
  For what? There’s not enough WT teams to fill the quota already, and three teams are potentially in deep doo-doo because the rouble is in the toilet with the drop in the oil price.
  - echidna_sg
    
    that doesn’t mean others aren’t trying to step up to WT status next year though does it? why would any team effectively give away 100 points given the choice? I guess the obvious solution is to go 1-2 and then they have the best of both worlds ;-)
    - Dave
      
      It won’t matter - BMC have a multi-year license issued to the end of 2016, and even if it was a single year license there’s no danger of them finishing outside the top 16 in the 2015 WorldTour teams ranking (i.e. in 17th place out of 17) even without Evans, they are not a one man band. The ‘sporting value’ (sum of the team’s five best riders’ points on the UCI World Ranking) only comes into play if they are in 17th or 18th place on the WorldTour teams ranking and fighting for a place with other teams trying to enter the WorldTour.
      
      The points scale has changed completely for 2015 as part of establishing a unified World Ranking, WorldTour event wins (whether winning a one day race or the GC of a tour) are worth 500 points except for the three grand tours at 1000 points.
      
      They’ll get the full point score for the WorldTour team ranking either way, that’s simply the sum of the three best-scoring riders at each WorldTour event - which if the race was to finish with the current results after four stages would be 1025 points: Dennis 580 (500 for the overall win + 60 for a stage win + 2×10 for two days as the leader) + Evans 425 (400 second overall + 25 second on a stage) + Stetina 20 (20 for coming 21st-40th overall). With two days still to come, if they hold the 1-2 there’s the potential for that score to be increased further by adding two more days in the leader’s jersey, getting podium finishes on stage 5 or Stetina moving further up the order.
  - Dave
    
    Good news for the Ruble teams - the EU has just announced they’ll be printing money to solve their own problems.
- Michele
  
  The WT points on offer at the TDU are more valuable for the teams from the perspective of car position in the race convoy for the upcoming Classics than for the 2016 season.
  - Dave
    
    This has changed - it is now the team’s best ranked rider in the *individual* world ranking which counts for the car position in a one day race or for the first stage of a tour.
    
    It won’t be a problem for BMC if they go 1-2 in either order, but it could lead to some deliberation over how to interpret the rule if Evans wins (and therefore leads the world rankings) and someone else gets in second with Dennis slipping back to third. Either way, there would be a protest from the team ruled against and
- Michele
  
  The WT points on offer at the TDU are more valuable for the teams from the perspective of car position in the race convoy for the upcoming Classics than for the 2016 season.
andy

BMC basically took all the jerseys and prizes today i see (excluding Will Clarkes efforts)!!
Andy B

Training for the Hour record seems to be good at getting guys into top form
Expecting many more to announce a shot ;)
Dave

Great stuff by Rohan, staking his claim to become Cadel’s successor as Australia’s top rider.

Take note Richie - it is earned, not inherited.
- http://cyclingtips.com.au Matt de Neef
  
  Possibly a little harsh re: Richie. I’d say winning Paris-Nice is a good indication he’s earned a chance to lead Sky in the big races.
  - echidna_sg
    
    I think he meant Australia’s top rider in the public’s eye… Richie has some great results, but he has also supported “2” of the old enemy to TdF victories… like it or not, riding for a brit team is not the way to win Aussie hearts!
Ralph

Great win, smashed that cheeky little climb. If he’s the best rider on the team he should go for it. no time for sentimentality haha! I also like LIgget’s comment that Lasse Norman Hansen was like a ‘snowball in the oven’. Good stage!
Daniel

No matter what BMC decides to do, you can bet they won’t say a damned thing about it until after Willunga.
On Willunga, the option seems pretty obvious; picture Contador and Kreuzigar attacking the reduced bunch on the way to Gap at the 2013 Tour. It will stop anyone attacking them, because Porte and Co. will have to burn all their energy pulling Evans and Dennis back. If one of them feels good within a couple of hundred meters of the line (when the other’s position is secure), they will jump clear.
I don’t see Dennis gifting it to Evans, and I don’t see Evans refusing to help Dennis out of spite. BMC should therefore go one-two, with Dennis likely on top unless Evans makes a break in the last couple of hundred meters up Willunga.