Steele von Hoff wins crash-marred sprint on stage 4 of the Tour Down Under

ADELAIDE, Australia (CT) – Stage 4 began in the seaside suburb of Glenelg in Adelaide’s west, and after a 7km neutral zone the riders headed south down the coast towards Sellicks Beach.

There was the usual flurry of attacks in the opening kilometres as a host of riders tried to get themselves into the day’s long breakaway. But with BMC seemingly unhappy with the composition of the groups that went up the road, the team of the race leader chased the breaks down and reset the race several times.

One of Marcel Kittel’s workhorses Lawson Craddock (Giant-Alpecin) crashed in the action-packed opening stages, abandoning the race a short time later.

After 23km of racing stage 1 winner Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) tried his hand at establishing a breakaway and he was joined by Michael Hepburn (Orica-GreenEdge), Peter Kennaugh (Sky) and Cedric Pineau (FDJ.fr).

BMC let the group go, despite the firepower contained within it, and the four leaders started to build a lead. Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin) tried to join the break but a second puncture for the day put paid to his chances of bridging the gap.

After 37km of racing, on approach to the day’s only KOM, the four leaders’ advantage reached its maximum of 2:25. On the second category Sellicks Hill KOM, after 44.2km, Bobridge claimed the maximum 10 points unchallenged, propelling himself back into the lead in the KOM classification.

His job done for the day, Bobridge sat up and started drifting back to the main field as the race headed inland. While Bobridge was being absorbed by the peloton, the three remaining leaders were forging on, their advantage hovering around 2:25.

But it wasn’t long until cooperation ceased in the break and their time in the sun was done. The BMC-led peloton caught the leaders 77km into the stage and with 67km still to race.

With the peloton all back together and two intermediate sprints still to contest, bonus seconds were up for grabs for the riders keen to move up the general classification. Daryl Impey capitalised on the opportunity, taking three bonus seconds (and five sprint points) ahead of Sky’s Luke Rowe (two seconds, three points) and Etixx-Quick-Step’s Mark Renshaw (one second, two points) at the first sprint in Ashbourne with 54.9km to go.

stage4maps

An easing of the pace after the first intermediate sprint allowed another breakaway to get up the road. Ruslan Tleubayev (Astana), Pieter Serry (Etixx-Quick-Step) and Maxim Belkov (Katusha) built a lead of 45 seconds with 49km left to race while BMC, Orica-GreenEdge and Giant-Alpecin took it easy on the front of the main field.

As the riders passed through the town of Strathalbyn, heading north towards their final destination of Mount Barker, the three leaders had an advantage in excess of two minutes. That lead would peak at 2:24 with 35km left to race but with Lampre-Merida working hard at the head of affairs the gap was soon to be eroded.

Maxim Belkov took out the final intermediate sprint in Macclesfield, ahead of Tleubayev and Serry. Meanwhile, back in the bunch, news was filtering through that Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin) had been shed from the peloton.

In the UniSA-Australia team car, director sportif Dave Sanders was sending a message to Steele von Hoff.

“As soon as we heard through the radio that Kittel was dropped I knew that now was my time,” von Hoff said after the stage.

The three leaders had less than a minute with 25km still to race and with 20km to go Tleubayev had been dropped and the gap was down to 43 seconds. With Movistar doing the chasing for stage 2 winner Juan Jose Lobato the race was destined to come back together very shortly.

Team Sky took over chasing duties with 10km to go and one kilometre later the break was caught.

In the town of Echunga, 8.6km from the finish, the riders turned right and began a short but steep climb. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) managed to break clear, opening a small gap, but with Orica-GreenEdge chasing hard for Impey the escape was to be short-lived.

stage4profile

Orica-GreenEdge and IAM Cycling shared the pace-setting duties in the final five kilometres with Trek Factory Racing, Lotto Soudal and Etixx-Quick-Step also finding their way to the front of the bunch. But in the final sprint it would be the UniSA-Australia national team that would make the most of the fast finish.

Wouter Wippert opened a decisive lead after hitting the front with 200m to go but it was the late run of Steele von Hoff that would win the day. The Australian criterium champion jumped off Wippert’s wheel and flew up the right-hand side, opening up a race-winning lead. Daryl Impey followed von Hoff, leaving Wippert to hold on for third place.

Only seven riders crossed the finish line in the front group after a crash with 150m to go brought down a large bunch of riders. Those that didn’t crash were caught up behind the carnage and were forced to wait before continuing to the finish.

The victory is the biggest of Steele von Hoff’s career and it comes just weeks after winning the Australian national criterium champion for the second consecutive year. The victory is more than significant for von Hoff who is riding for the British Continental squad NFTO this year after being let go by Garmin-Sharp at the end of 2014.

“It’s been a fantastic start to the year,” von Hoff said. “Hopefully it’s all progress to try and get me back up to the WorldTour.

“This is my biggest [victory] yet. It’s fantastic,” von Hoff said. “To win a stage at Tour Down Under, my favourite race of the year, I couldn’t be happier.”

Von Hoff’s victory makes it two stage wins in four days for the UniSA-Australia team, a national squad whose impact on the Tour Down Under is usually limited to being represented in breakaways. But this year, with several former WorldTour riders on the team, not to mention some great emerging talents, the team has been a major player in the race.

Apart from Steele von Hoff and Rohan Dennis — the later maintaining his overall lead ahead of the queen stage of the race — the biggest winner on the stage was Daryl Impey. Six bonus seconds for finishing second, plus a further three bonus seconds at the first intermediate sprint, see the South African move from 10th overall to fourth. Impey will now wear the red jersey of the points classification leader.

Jack Bobridge takes over the lead in the KOM classification after his efforts in the breakaway, while Rohan Dennis leads the best young rider classification (although Tom Dumoulin will wear the white jersey again tomorrow).

BMC still leads the team classification and Cedric Pineau was awarded the most competitive rider for his efforts in the early breakaway.

Tomorrow’s penultimate stage of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under is almost certain to determine the overall classification. The 151.5km stage takes the riders from McLaren Vale to the top of Willunga Hill via two ascents of the 3.5km climb.

Click here to see our report from stage 1 of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under, here for stage 2, and here for stage 3.

Photo gallery

: The stage started in Glenelg with a 7km neutral zone out of town.

: The first section of the stage saw the riders head south out of Adelaide along the coast.

: Race leader Rohan Dennis sits on the wheel of Cadel Evans as the stage unfolds. BMC controlled the peloton for the first half of the race.

: Movistar did a lot of the chasing in the closing kilometres.

: The day’s second major breakaway featured Ruslan Tleubayev (Astana), Pieter Serry (Etixx-Quick-Step) and Maxim Belkov (Katusha). They built a lead of more than two minutes but were caught with 9km to race.

: A crash 150m from the line left many riders with road rash, including Katusha’s Vladimir Isaichev.

: Lotto Soudal’s Kenny de Haes was one of four riders taken to hospital after the stage.

: Daryl Impey moved into the lead of the points classification and moved up six spots on the GC with his second place on the stage.

: Rohan Dennis leads both the general classification and the best young rider classification going into stage 5 of the six-stage race.

Race results

Go to: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Santos Tour Down Under

Stage 4

: Glenelg > Mt Barker

Friday 23rd January (2015)

Classification: 2.UWT

Category: Int. Men

Distance: 144.5km

Stage Result

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

General Classification

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

Mountains Classification

1.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	20
2.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	16
3.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	12
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.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	6
9.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	4
10.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	4
11.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	4
12.	KENNAUGH Peter Team Sky	4
13.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	2
14.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	2
15.	PINEAU Cédric FDJ	2
16.	SCOTSON Miles	2

Points Classification

1.	IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE	39
2.	BONIFAZIO Niccolo Lampre - Merida	29
3.	EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team	25
4.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant - Alpecin	25
5.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	24
6.	VON HOFF Steele NFTO	22
7.	BELKOV Maxim Team Katusha	22
8.	BOBRIDGE Jack Team Budget Forklifts	20
9.	HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling	20
10.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	19
11.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	19
12.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	18
13.	MEERSMAN Gianni Etixx - Quick Step	18
14.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	17
15.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	15
16.	CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling	15
17.	IZAGIRRE Gorka Movistar Team	13
18.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	13
19.	BOUET Maxime Etixx - Quick Step	12
20.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff - Saxo	11
21.	DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal	10
22.	SANCHEZ Luis Leon Astana Pro Team	10
23.	HAIG Jack	9
24.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	9
25.	SELIG Rüdiger Team Katusha	9
26.	FERNANDEZ Ruben Movistar Team	8
27.	POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale	7
28.	HAAS Nathan Team Cannondale - Garmin	7
29.	ALAFACI Eugenio Trek Factory Racing	7
30.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	6
31.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	6
32.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant - Alpecin	6
33.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	4
34.	TLEUBAYEV Ruslan Astana Pro Team	3
35.	ROWE Luke Team Sky	3
36.	SERRY Pieter Etixx - Quick Step	2
37.	RENSHAW Mark Etixx - Quick Step	2
38.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	2

Youth Classification

1.	DENNIS Rohan BMC Racing Team	13:41:34
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.	LAMPAERT Yves Etixx - Quick Step	8:14
16.	DILLIER Silvan BMC Racing Team	8:55
17.	ALAFACI Eugenio Trek Factory Racing	9:29
18.	WATSON Calvin Trek Factory Racing	12:09
19.	EDMONDSON Alexander	12:32
20.	SCOTSON Miles	16:25
21.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	18:33
22.	ROWE Luke Team Sky	18:44
23.	MANZIN Lorrenzo FDJ	19:04
24.	KERBY Jordan Drapac Professional Cycling	25:23
25.	NORMAN HANSEN Lasse Team Cannondale - Garmin	25:54
26.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	31:17
27.	GOUGEARD Alexis AG2R La Mondiale	31:41
28.	MARKUS Barry Team LottoNL-Jumbo	36:56
29.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	38:49
30.	VALLéE Boris Lotto Soudal	42:02

Teams Classification

1.	BMC Racing Team	41:05:36
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.	Team Katusha	1:57
8.	Astana Pro Team	-
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

jon

really happy for Von Hoff; perhaps not able continuing with JV’s squad is the right thing after all. Best luck to him for the rest of 2015.
RayG

How on earth did Jeremy Roy get through that?

And that Canyon needs new forks.
- http://cyclingtips.com.au Matt de Neef
  
  Sure does. How about the IAM rider in front of him? Amazing bike handling, especially when you see it at full speed.
  - Dave
    
    You can see Roy and Kluge (IAM #134) make it through on this view which was posted on the ABC Online story about the race.
    
    https://twitter.com/CyclingAus/status/558496770418688002
- Mark
  
  Nah. It’s just forked!!!!
- Samaway
  
  He posted the footage, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_7pYVF664
  - Dave
    
    In case you didn’t notice, that footage was embedded in the article already and that’s what these comments were about!
Dom

Racing incident or did Hausler chop up the FDJ rider?
- Michele
  
  Good question. I can’t remember which angle it was - perhaps the front on? - but one of them does appear to show HH moving off his line [then again, so was the FDJ rider behind him].
  
  However, when you see the incident from the arial view, it doesn’t look as bad.
  - Sean Doyle
    
    It was definitely the touch from Hausslers wheel that caused it but I honestly couldn’t say he dangerously moved off his line or that he moved much at all.
    - Sean Doyle
      
      Actually. I just watched it again on Nine. He did move a bit. Still wouldn’t point a finger but it was a bit ragged.
- Samaway
  
  I watched it last night, and the FDJ rider seemed pretty squirrelly to me…
- ron
  
  The AG2R guy was weaving all over the shop to get thru gaps imo
Bracksy

Who’s idea was it to start the race through tram tracks?!?
- Matt
  
  The first few km were neural. Just a parade.
  - Dave
    
    The notorious stem starer Chris Froome isn’t here this week, so we can trust everyone to ride sensibly and avoid crashing in the neutral zone.
    - Chris
      
      It’s a new season. Can we leave this lame joke back in 2014?
- Dave
  
  The council and local traders who paid for it all.
  
  The grooves were filled in almost up to the rail level with some kind of clear epoxy resin for last night’s street party and the stage start - which was removed this afternoon before trams resumed. They used this solution in the past to hold the opening night crit on Jetty Road, and I believe they’ll use it again for the crossings of the tram tracks in the city for stage six.
Ian

These daily stage recaps are excellent. Great mix of content. Love your work.
Dave

Odd decision to award the KOM points on Sellicks Hill, instead of the much harder climb between Macclesfield and Meadows which spat Kittel out the back.

I’ve ridden Sellicks Hill one time in the past with the assistance of a moderate tailwind, and it felt like a flat road.
- http://cyclingtips.com.au Matt de Neef
  
  Yeah, the race book lists Sellicks Hill as 5.4km at 1.94%. Not exactly menacing is it?
  - Dave
    
    The grade is harder than that most of the way, but the average is let down by a few downhill bits! Definitely unworthy of a mention on your other site :D
    
    Now, if they sealed Old Sellicks Hill Road (currently gravel only) that would be a worthy challenge - 5.5km at 6.0% if you take it from the corner of Norman Road and Main South Road, 7.3% average for the last 3.2km after the turn off the main road and pinches of up to about 10%. And a bloody spectacular view for good measure.
    
    https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-35.3076619,138.4732616/-35.3473214,138.4827905/-35.3711652,138.4871851/@-35.3364869,138.4769111,13z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e1
    - easytiger
      
      That’s missing the point, sealing the road, they should introduce some gravel sections next year!
      
      http://www.strava.com/segments/blockers-rd-full-length-merchants-wyes-973562
      
      Adelaide’s own Strade Bianche, and the world famous Peugeot Graveyard - https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.926287,138.790573,3a,75y,120.54h,86.33t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sI1Nh8FjAdAEnxpYlwFSwoQ!2e0
Samaway

What I dig about the write-ups on Cycling Tips are the exclusive photos embedded at the end of the articles! No one else does that. The picture of Dennis on Evans’ wheel is particularly cool-it’s a nifty little old school/new school contrast. Thanks guys :)
- CB
  
  They couldn’t have made those jerseys anymore similar? A little confusing dare I say