Canberra's Chloe Hosking has enjoyed a promising world championship debut with sixth place in the elite women's road race in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The 20 year old mixed it up with her more experienced rivals in the bunch sprint to decide the title but it was defending champion Giorgia Bronzini of Italy who triumphed on the uphill drag to the line.

She completed the 140 kilometre course in a time of 3:21:28 to edge out Marianne Vos (NED) who won in 2006 but since then has been a perennial bridesmaid with five straight silver medals. Germany's Ina Teutenberg was third.

Hosking, who rides with pro team HTC - Highroad, says she's happy with her result and that she managed to avoid crashing during the perilous last lap.

"I was just hoping to stay upright. There were crashes left, right an centre coming down the back straight," said Hosking. "It was fast and it was dodgy but I came away with a sixth at my first world championships so I'm happy."

As has been the case with the previous races the medals have been decided in a frantic dash to the line.

"I was hoping that on that last little kick up it would break into a smaller group but it didn't and I think, you've seen in the last few races it's such a fast course. To stay away is not so easy," said Hosking. "We never wanted to do a lead out train it was more of a sit in, protect yourself and if the girls could, if they still had it in their legs, fire missiles and see if they it would string it out.

Cycling Australian women's road coach, Martin Barras, says the team performance augers well for next year.

"When you look at where our team has been that is our best result for the last few years," said Barras. "I am not going to go and get overly excited with a sixth place, (but) the fact is it comes from a young girl it is a step in the right direction especially heading into the Olympics."

Meanwhile Amanda Spratt, team captain on the road for the Australian women, was one of those who came down in the last lap but recovered to finish the race, albeit more than two minutes after the leaders.

"The crash happened with a couple of k's (kilometres) to go, it was getting hectic in the finish but I'm fine and I crossed the line," Spratt said. "It was pretty chaotic. A flat course and it went so quickly. We had to be really attentive and up the front and I think we did a good job of that.

"The plan today was to be patient throughout the day and wait for the last few laps which we tried to do but nothing was sticking so in the end we put Chloe up for the sprint and she was sixth so a good result for the team."

Earlier in the day the junior men's road race was won by Frenchman Pierre-Henri le Cuisinier ahead of Belgian Martijn Degreve and Dutchman Steven Lammertink. Australia's best placed finisher was Calvin Watson who was 16th.

The 2011 UCI Road World Championships wrap up tomorrow with the 266km elite men's road race.

Australian Cyclones - 2011 UCI Road World Championships

(TT - Time Trial, RR - Road Race) 

Team Sky has announced its team for next month’s Tour of Britain, starting on 11 September in Peebles, Scotland.

Geraint Thomas and Ben Swift, both members of Team Sky’s successful 2011 Tour de France squad, will be joined by fellow British riders Peter Kennaugh and Alex Dowsett.  The experienced Australian duo, Michael Rogers and Mathew Hayman, will round out the six-man team. 

“The squad features a great mix of young and experienced riders that will be well equipped to deal with the race’s challenges. Team Sky was created to give British talent a chance at the elite end of racing and in Geraint, Ben, Alex and Peter we have four of this country’s most exciting professionals. They have shown all season with their results that they can ride and compete with the world’s best cyclists.  Alongside them will be the hugely experienced Michael Rogers and Mathew Hayman – riders who have performed at Grand Tour level on numerous occasions. We have a really exciting team and can’t wait for 11 September.”

Geraint Thomas, Team Sky rider, commented:

You can follow the team throughout the Tour of Britain at 

-ends-

Team Profiles

Alex Dowsett

Mathew Hayman

Peter Kennaugh

Michael Rogers

Ben Swift

Geraint Thomas

03 August, 2011 – Both the stage and the yellow jersey went to Peter Sagan on the finish line of the fourth stage in the Tour de Pologne. At the arrival in Cieszyn the Slovak rider from Liquigas Cannondale burst ahead of everyone and beat Irishman Daniel Martin (Garmin Cervelo), winner of the 2010 Tour de Pologne, who came in second, and Italian Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil), who took third.

After Marcel Kittel laid down the law in the first three spectacular sprinting arrivals, today’s 176.9 - km fourth stage from  Oswiecim  to Cieszyn, with four Mountain Grand Prix (three first class and one third) really heated things up in the Tour de Pologne. It was an arrival recalling the Northern Classics, which wound through the spectacular circuit in Cieszyn (6.3 km repeated 3 times), with the final kilometre uphill on cobblestones. In Cieszyn, a small town divided between  Poland  and The Czech Republic, the Tour de Pologne featured a brief stretch over the border.

The stage was animated by a break featuring four riders: Poland’s Bartolomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat) and Kamil Gradik ( Poland ), Italian Federico Rocchetti (De Rosa Flaminia) and American Chad Beyer (Bmc). It was Beyer who got things going at the 105 km mark, during the first class GPM on Kubalonka, where he set off on his own for an attack. After a few kilometres the champion from Moldova Alexandr Pliuschin (Katuasha) caught up with the American, and the two riders collaborated in the lead to about 25 kilometresfrom the arrival. As they entered the three rounds on the final circuit, the Moldovan broke away and continued on alone. However, the group was not going to let Pliuschin get away so fast. When the pack caught up to the Moldovan, Australian Simon Clarke (Astana) took off. Then when Clarke got caught in the final, the riders from Liquigas Cannondale took the lead in the group and stepped up the pace to prepare an attack by Slovak Peter Sagan, who busted out and gained enough of an advantage to take the last curve in the lead by himself, crossing the finish line with arms raised in triumph.

“This arrival was adapted to my skills,” says Sagan. “I’m in good shape so this morning in the team we decided to race for me and to try to win. I have to thank my team mates and especially Nibali; they all did an extraordinary job to make the cut in the final circuit. I’m happy with this victory; it’s a result that boosts my confidence as I look ahead to the Vuelta España, where I’m counting on doing well. Now I’m going to try to defend this yellow jersey, even if there are still two very difficult stages…let’s see how it goes tomorrow.”

After the fourth stage the cyclamen "Tauron" jersey for the GPM is still on Poland's Bartolomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat), the red "Fiat" jersey goes to Pole Adrian Kurek (Poland), who confirms himself as the most active rider in the group, while Frenchman Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) took the white & green "Plus" jersey for the points' classification.

Abandon: Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Caleb Fairly (Htc).

July 12 Yaroslav Popovych will not take the start of stage 10 in the Tour de France. Since Sunday Popovych has fever. As the rest day didn’t bring any amelioration, the team decided not to let him start in Aurillac. The former Tour de France stage winner will undergo some extra tests today.

In stage five Popovych crashed twice. With a lot of character he survived four more stages. The current illness however makes an end to his Tour de France. Earlier this Tour Team RadioShack lost Jani Brajkovic with collarbone fracture and Chris Horner with severe concussion and nose fracture. Other team leader Levi Leipheimer crashed three times and Andreas Klöden suffers from lower back hematoma and muscle contracture after the big crash in last Sunday’s stage. Klöden will take the start today and hopes for improvement the coming days.

Over the past week I have been living the high life with my team in the Czech Republic...Not. I hope you've made yourself a cup of tea or at least a strong alcoholic beverage as this is going to be a long one... And it ain't going to be pretty.

The Tour de Feminin in Krasna Lipa, a UCI 2.2, was my first race in the For Viored Brookvex colours, and a harsh reminder that I, along with most women, don't do this sport because of the glitz and glamour.

The team :)

For me the trip started off with a 13hr drive from Belgium to Krasna Lipa with a well welcomed pitt stop at close to 2am in a local hotel in Germany where the team and staff were able to get some decent shut eye and freshen up. Departing again just after 9am, we arrived in Czech with enough time to get to our accommodation and have a quick spin on the bikes before tea. Pulling up to the accommodation we were greeted by a 7 story run down school building. This should've served as the first warning sign for all of us to take extra precautions in relation to hygiene over the next few days...

We were staying on level 5 and the lift was so rickety and old that it could only hold 3 people at a time. We stretched the limit and would sneak 4/5 girls in but the next morning we heard that a team had loaded themselves into the lift and it had gotten stuck between floors - from then on it was strictly 3 people to the lift for us, or 2 if we felt that we had eaten too much.

At 4 to a room, the dorms were actually quite big and the girls and I had thought we'd scored the good room until 11pm on the first night when we could hear a guy snoring...from the next room. This was a trend for the next 4 nights and we would rush to get to bed before our neighbor did, because if we didn't, we were in for a long sleepless night.

Our room...excuse the mess :s

The bathrooms were communal - toilets and showers for use by both men and women. The toilets weren't too bad as they at least had doors but I had forgotten how confident most Europeans are with their bodies until I noticed that only 2 out of the 8 showers had shower curtains. It also wasn't uncommon for you to go into the bathrooms and have a naked person, male or female, happily standing there whilst you brushed your teeth or filled up your race bottles. I'm all for feeling confident about your body but somethings are better left to the imagination... Please. I was going to try get a photo of the bathrooms but couldnt do it without feeling like a dirty perv. And nice try euros but p.s, a face washer does not classify as a towel.

Before i knew it was race day and sitting on the start line after all the debacle in actually getting my butt over to Europe, i was excited about finally starting my first UCI tour. The gun went off and for the first 20 odd k I haven't braked so much in my life. 161 nervous girls meant that positioning yourself at the front was mandatory - if you wanted to live. It took me a while to get settled in the bunch but once I did, I really started enjoying myself and remembered just why I love racing! I managed to stay with the first bunch until the final climb 3k from the finish when i dagged off the back. I rolled in just over 1min behind and in 54th place. I was quietly stoked about my performance given the circumstances and lack of racing and was looking forward to riding into the rest of the tour! What was most exciting was seeing the other Australian teams and super legend Amanda Spratt take out the win with former track sprinter Nettie Edmondson in 2nd!!! It's always nice seeing other Aussies on the otherwise of the World, and doing so well!!

Back to the accommodation for showers and dinner, we were greeted in the kitchen by yet another serving of chicken and potatoes or rice if you thought the rice from lunch would taste better a second time round. In all fairness though, it was edible.

On this trip were fortunate to have 6 staff members accompanying us. Each night Jody and Ian were the Soignys in charge of tricking our legs into thinking the day's racing never happened. Gerard from Rouleur was our own personal photographer for the week, stalking our every move for an article about soigneurs on tour ( i can't wait the see the pictures he took, they are definitely uncensored) Then there was Steev our mechanic and assistant mechanic Boudewijn and last but not least, Rene our DS.

Day 2 and on paper it definitely looked rough. We had to climb that same set if climbs I had gotten dagged on the previous day 3 times before entering a 20k flatter circuit. My goal for the race was to finish first bunch. Up the climb for the first time, dagged. Chased back on on the decent and caught up through the cars a few k before starting the climbs the 2nd time. 2nd time up the climb, dagged again. This time got into a rhythm and got over the top in the cars and so managed to get back pretty quick. 3rd time up the climb and i somehow hauled my ass over with the first group, thank god. Rode in the bunch and crossed the line at the back of the first group - one happy camper :) Aussie Jayco rider Mel Hoskins took the win with Nettie again taking 2nd spot ahead of Aussie National rider Belinda Goss! Spratty again put in a huge effort to keep the jersey.

It was from the moment we got back to the accommodation that things started to go downhill... Having dinner I instantly felt ill. Attributing it to carbooverlading, I went for my massage and laid in bed thinking nothing of it. It wasn't until 1am that I knew something wasn't right, I rushed to the bathroom and felt sick. I emerged from the toilet and saw a handful of other riders including another one of our own, Gabby Shaw sitting out front. About an hour later the German National DS walked in from the lower level and said 'oh no, not you too' - turns out there was a bunch of us who had felt the wrath of dodgey fish night at the canteen.. I stayed up crippled with a fever and stomach ache until 5am when i crawled my corpse into bed. 6am and the alarm went off for breakfast as we had a double stage and had to leave just after 7am. Needless today, I wasn't feeling it. I felt as though I had a horrible hangover, without the awesome memories from the night before - I got ripped off big time. I hadn't felt that ill for a LONG time.

I couldn't even lift my head from the pillow let alone get myself out of bed and I quickly came to the realization that there was no way I was going to be getting on the bike today. I was filthy to say the least. Having to pull out of a tour is a hard and frustrating enough decision as it is, made even more so when it is due to unnecessary things outside of your control.

Welcome to the perks of lower level women's cycling. The higher ranked teams were put up in hotels whilst us club teams were in these dorms. Riding tours are hard enough as it is and after each stage it is particularly important to put extra emphasis on recovery strategies. Most higher level teams have staff to look after meals, washing and even booking different accommodation when the set accommodation it isn't up to scratch. Unfortunately this isn't the case for most other women club teams. Once we get home from the stage, it's into the open communal showers with hot water if your lucky (don't forget your thongs). Next its time to hand wash your kit in the sink and cross your fingers that it will dry in time for the next stage, otherwise you're riding in a wet chamois - yummy. Down for dinner and if it looks slightly poisonous or unappealing then tough luck, looks like you're going to starve unless there is a supermarket nearby where you can buy pre-made meals. After dinner you have to walk up 5 stories because the rickety lift has finally given way when legs burning, you eventually reach your bedroom and realize you've forgotten your room key on the table downstairs...Finally to bed where getting bedding provided to you is optional, I always bring a pillow and a towel so I don't have to use my backpack and paper towel or a face washer.
Before you know it, it's ridiculous o'clock at night and you shouldve been in bed hours ago but now you're lying awake because a dog is barking or the staff members of another team are all having a grand old time drinking beers - it's 2am and you've got 4hrs until you get up and have to do it all over again.

Our accomodation...

Welcome to pretty much women's cycling. And this was a UCI race!!! But what keeps me coming back year after year is the joy and excitement I get from racing and the people i meet along the way. I know if I continue to work hard my efforts will pay off and I will get the results which will enable me to eventually ride for a professional women's team and make all of this seem worthwhile. In the meantime, I'm trying not to stress too much and enjoy the ride - otherwise I'll never make it out alive :p

A big thank you to all the team at For Viored Brookvex for the support and a special mention to Jody Leach our swanky for sitting up with us and listening to a bunch of girls being sick. If you think being a male swanny for a team of girls would be the best job ever - ask this man. You definitely deserved a medal.

My eyes and ears will never be the same after this trip but i'll leave that all for another post. I'm now sitting in the van on te epic journey back to Belgium. I'm still feeling slightly average but I'm looking forward to getting back home, recovering and getting my body ready for my next race Dwars de Westhoek, a UCI 1.2 in Belgium. I broke my ribs at this race 20km in last year so here's hoping for some better luck!!! Lol...

Lost in translation in the race manual... I LOLed.

Until next time,

Stay safe and take care

Miff xx

Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team won his second career Tour de France stage Tuesday by narrowly edging three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) in a sprint to the top of the the Mûr de Bretagne.

Too Close To Call

"I don't know if I'm the master of the uphill finish, but today it was a difficult one with the wind and everything," Evans said. "It was very close. I didn't know if I had it on the line myself." The victory was Evans's second stage victory this year and the BMC Racing Team's sixth of the season. The 2009 world road champion also won Stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico and took the overall title there, as well as the overall crown at the Tour de Romandie. He also has a runner-up finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné to his credit this year. His previous Tour stage win in 2007 came as a result of a disqualification on Stage 13.

Brief Scare

Evans suffered a bit of a scare with 20 kilometers to go in the 172.5 km race when he punctured, then had his path blocked by a camera motorbike that crashed in front of him. But nearly half of the BMC Racing Team quickly returned him to the peloton. "The reaction of the team was wonderful because we directly stopped with four riders," BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said. "Most important was that we didn't panic. We were in the middle part of the peloton and there was no reason to take risks. The best was to wait until we made a turn and had a tailwind."

Hincapie's Help

With four kilometers to go, BMC Racing Team road captain George Hincapie, competing in a record-tying 16th Tour de France, ratched up the pace at the front to string out the field as the final two-kilometer climb approached. Evans said he followed the wheel of Phillipe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), winner of Stage 1. "Phil was certainly the guy to watch," Evans said. "It was a particular kind of finish with the wind and so on. I'm really pleasantly surprised." Asked if he can win his first Tour de France after runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008, Evans said: "I certainly hope so. So far all is going well. I've come close before, so we'll see. We'll keep working on it." Evans remains second overall, one second behind Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo).

Stage 4 Top 25

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 4:11:39
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
4 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
7 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
11 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:06
12 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
13 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:00:08
15 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana
16 Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack
17 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
18 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
19 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo
20 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack
21 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
22 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
23 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
24 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
25 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek

General classification after stage 4

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 13:58:25
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:01
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:04
4 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:08
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 0:00:10
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
7 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:12
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
10 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek
11 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:00:13
12 Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
13 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad
14 Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack 0:00:18
15 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack
16 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack
17 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:20
18 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:00:32
19 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:33
20 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:39
21 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:40
22 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar 0:00:58
23 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:03
24 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:01:04
25 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard Trek 0:01:06
26 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:01:12
27 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
28 Egor Silin (Rus) Katusha Team
29 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:15
30 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
31 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:01:18
32 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:01:21
33 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quickstep Cycling Team
34 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:22
35 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:01:29
36 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Katusha Team
37 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:01:31
38 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:34
39 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
40 Gianni Meersman (Bel) FDJ 0:01:38
41 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:01:42
42 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:01:45
43 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha Team
44 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:49
45 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:57
46 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
47 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek 0:02:00
48 Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:02:04
49 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:02:06
50 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:02:10
51 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:02:14
52 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:02:18
53 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShack 0:02:24
54 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ 0:02:25
55 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:02:29
56 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:02:34
57 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:02:36
58 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale
59 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ 0:02:37
60 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:02:40
61 Yuriy Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:02:43
62 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:02:47
63 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:02:48
64 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:02:52
65 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ 0:03:00
66 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ
67 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar 0:03:04
68 Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:06
69 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:07
70 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
71 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD 0:03:10
72 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar 0:03:12
73 Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:03:16
74 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:03:18
75 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:20
76 Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:27
77 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:30
78 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:34
79 Julien El Fares (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
80 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
81 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team 0:03:36
82 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:03:39
83 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team RadioShack 0:03:44
84 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team 0:03:50
85 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:04:00
86 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:04:09
87 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:14
88 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:04:17
89 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:04:18
90 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:19
91 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:04:21
92 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek
93 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Team RadioShack
94 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 0:04:22
95 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad
96 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:04:26
97 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:04:28
98 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ
99 William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ 0:04:29
100 Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ 0:04:30
101 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team RadioShack 0:04:51
102 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:04:55
103 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:04:56
104 Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:05:07
105 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:05:12
106 Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling 0:05:14
107 Jérémie Galland (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:05:19
108 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:05:31
109 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:05:33
110 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:05:37
111 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar Team 0:05:38
112 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:05:50
113 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Leopard Trek 0:06:10
114 Jens Voigt (Ger) Leopard Trek 0:06:15
115 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling 0:06:17
116 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:06:34
117 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:44
118 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:06:46
119 Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:06:47
120 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:06:48
121 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad 0:06:52
122 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:06:53
123 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
124 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ 0:06:56
125 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:07:09
126 Danny Pate (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:07:11
127 Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:07:12
128 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:07:13
129 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:07:15
130 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:07:17
131 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:07:21
132 Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar 0:07:36
133 Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar 0:07:37
134 Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Pro Team Astana 0:07:42
135 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:07:50
136 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - ISD 0:07:52
137 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana 0:08:02
138 Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:08:07
139 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:08:11
140 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:08:13
141 Frederik Willems (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:08:18
142 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:08:20
143 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Leopard Trek 0:08:22
144 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) HTC-Highroad 0:08:45
145 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team 0:08:48
146 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:08:51
147 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:08:52
148 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto
149 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto
150 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:08:53
151 Iván Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:09:10
152 Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:09:15
153 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISD 0:09:17
154 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
155 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:09:23
156 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:09:26
157 Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:09:28
158 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team 0:09:31
159 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Pro Team Astana 0:09:38
160 Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISD 0:09:49
161 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:10:00
162 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 0:10:27
163 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Pro Team Astana 0:10:30
164 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:10:33
165 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:10:35
166 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky Procycling 0:10:42
167 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:10:43
168 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:10:48
169 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:11:03
170 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha Team 0:11:18
171 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:11:33
172 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-Highroad 0:11:36
173 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar 0:11:39
174 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:11:40
175 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:11:44
176 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:11:47
177 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 0:11:51
178 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team 0:11:52
179 Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:12:24
180 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:12:34
181 Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
182 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:12:52
183 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:13:07
184 Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:13:28
185 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:13:36
186 Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:14:00
187 Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:14:25
188 David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:14:35
189 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:15:00
190 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:15:16
191 Addy Engels (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:15:22
192 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:16:36
193 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:16:59
194 Jesús Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:18:09
195 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:19:52
196 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team RadioShack 0:25:10
197 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar 0:27:53

Points classification

1 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 82 pts
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 80
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 77
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 70
5 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 68
6 Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 38
7 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ 37
8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 36
9 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 36
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 35
11 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 35
12 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 34
13 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 30
14 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 30
15 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 28
16 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 26
17 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 26
18 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 26
19 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 24
20 Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ 23
21 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 22
22 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 20
23 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Cervelo 18
24 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 17
25 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar Team 17
26 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 16
27 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 16
28 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 15
29 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar 15
30 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team 15
31 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 15
32 Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack 14
33 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13
34 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13
35 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 12
36 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 11
37 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team 11
38 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 10
39 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard Trek 10
40 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team 10
41 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar 8
42 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 6
43 Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad 6
44 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 6
45 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 6
46 Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 6
47 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 5
48 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 5
49 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 4
50 Gianni Meersman (Bel) FDJ 4
51 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 4
52 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 2
53 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 2
54 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 1
55 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 1
56 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team -5

Mountains classification

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 2 pts
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1
3 Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ 1
4 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 1
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 1

Young rider classification

1 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 13:58:37
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
3 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:00:01
4 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:08
5 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar 0:00:46
6 Egor Silin (Rus) Katusha Team 0:01:00
7 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:01:06
8 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:22
9 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:01:33
10 Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:52
11 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:01:54
12 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:02:02
13 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ 0:02:13
14 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:02:17
15 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:02:24
16 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ 0:02:25
17 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:02:35
18 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:02:40
19 Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:54
20 Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:03:04
21 Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:15
22 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team 0:03:24
23 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:57
24 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:02
25 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 0:04:10
26 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ 0:04:16
27 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:04:43
28 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:05:38
29 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 0:06:34
30 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:06:57
31 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:07:09
32 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:07:59
33 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:09:48
34 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:10:21
35 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:11:28
36 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 0:11:39
37 Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:13:48
38 Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:14:13
39 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:15:04

Teams classification

1 Team Garmin-Cervelo 41:05:55
2 Sky Procycling 0:00:02
3 Leopard Trek 0:00:04
4 Team RadioShack 0:00:10
5 HTC-Highroad 0:00:13
6 Pro Team Astana 0:00:49
7 Movistar Team 0:01:15
8 Team Europcar
9 Quickstep Cycling Team 0:01:21
10 Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:34
11 Katusha Team 0:01:46
12 Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:48
13 BMC Racing Team 0:02:05
14 Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:02:19
15 Liquigas-Cannondale
16 FDJ 0:02:42
17 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:07
18 AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:29
19 Lampre - ISD 0:04:04
20 Saur - Sojasun 0:06:29
21 Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:06:30
22 Saxo Bank Sungard

 

Robbie Hunter Radioshack

“My legs hurt”

                                                                                                                                Bert Grabsch HTC

“This isn’t sun block, its war paint, lucky there’s no pressure on me today”

                                                                                                                                Graeme Brown Rabobank

Stage 5 has arrived. I think everyone has been looking forward to this and with Cam Meyer Garmin-Cervelo leap-frogging into the lead yesterday the landscape has changed.

So what exactly happened yesterday? Well a guy who sprints but is not a sprinter has won from a breakaway. He has won by enough seconds to make life hard for anyone chasing him. He leads the peloton by 10 sec to Laurens Ten Dam and 12 sec to Matt Goss.

You get a 10 sec bonus for winning a stage so Goss who is a sprinter and is in the form of his life needs to not only beat Cam Meyer on the road by time but also win the stage just to catch up! Everyone else would have to do more than this...hmmmm

I have it on good authority that Sky is going to attack, try and get Swift up the rankings. Rabobank want to get Michael Matthews up there for the win. Garmin -Cervelo are in the driver’s seat but they can’t just sit back, anything can happen with 2 climbs up Willunga Hill. The crowd want lance to attack. Everyone’s going to be screaming support for Cav just because he’s Cav. (Just quietly, I’m predicting Jack Bobridge will smash it on the second climb)

Once again an 1100am start at McLaren Vale. Wine country and the public are out in force. The drive from the Hilton, the wonderful home base for both the riders and the media, was chock-a-block.

The start is actually on an uphill slope. I notice the riders WC is being used a lot at the back, is everyone nervous?

2 Laps around the beach then up the hill for 2 more. How hard can it be? Pretty hard!!

The peloton roll out and the obligatory break begins...8 riders, none from the major players.

1^st sprint along the ocean at Aldinga beach lap 1 Davide Vigano Leopard Trek  1^st, Sebastian Haedo Saxobank Sungard 2^nd and crit champ John Murphy BMC 3^rd. It’s clear, send guys up the road take up time bonuses, get some points.

2^nd sprint lap 2 Murphy 1^st, Vigano 2^nd and this time Juan Horrach Katusha 3^rd.

And then just before the climbing laps begin, HTC shut things down. 1 min 30 is brought back in a few km and the peloton begin the ascent together.

Old Willunga Hill.

The crowd lining the road makes Checkers Hill yesterday look small. Everyone who could be there was. Walking down from the KOM line to find his spot was a blind man being lead by his lady. This guys living life. The world’s a stage get on it!!

At the top we see the helicopter sitting above us signalling the peloton and Race Director Mike Turtur gets an enormous ovation as he passes. Shortly after a rider turns the final bend...

He’s wearing Uni SA gear. The crowd already screaming go even higher.

Luke Roberts extends his lead in the KOM and crosses the line 1^st on the 1^st lap. Angel Madrazo Movistar 2^nd, Ben Hermans Radioshack 3^rd (He attacked strong up Checkers Hill yesterday) Richie Porte Saxobank Sungard 4^th and Mirko Selvaggi VCD 5^th.

The peloton now stretching out to several groups follow over the top.

2^nd lap things are different.

Ben Hermans 1^st, Riche Porte 2^nd, Jack Bobridge 3^rd (my prediction, c’mon Jack make me look good!) Luke Roberts 4^th and Michael Rogers Sky 5^th.

Now it’s time for the drag race to the finish, and I don’t mean the riders. Jumping into the car Jamie and Roger from ABC radio and me, see if we can race the peloton from the top of the KOM to the line. It’s a gamble but that’s bike racing.

While we descend madly down the Adelaide to Victor Harbour road doing 100kmph the riders are madly descending Penny Hill road also doing 100kmph. It’s touch-and-go between us and them (although they have a smaller carbon footprint, but only just, we’re in a hybrid!!)

A quick turn onto the Aldinga beach road and up to the finish line; security lets us through, make all the equipment portable and jump a barrier and we’re there. The peloton are a few km away.

Some of the guys have gone off the front; they have 13 sec and Jacks there! The last bend before the finishing straight and he slides out. He gets up and rejoins the following group. My prediction has just gone out the window much to our mutual disappointment I’m sure.

Isasi from Euskatel-Euskadi is leading down the straight. And then he gets swallowed up. The finish is going to be tight.

Suddenly Movistar, under the radar for most of the tour, makes its presence known:  Its Francisco Ventoso MOV in a photo finish to Michael Matthews (where did HE come from?) and...Matt Goss! (Where did HE come from? Then again to the average guy in the crowd who’d be holding his position at the finish line for the last 45min, where did we come from?)

“This is a massive victory for me, but more important for the team. We have a new sponsor this year and to win is really important.”  Said Francisco Ventoso today’s stage winner, “The crowds were incredible and the ambience is very special for the cycling.”

Landscape changes again.

“I’ve been in and out of the jersey so if the pattern keeps going the way it has it’s my turn to get back into the jersey tomorrow” Matt Goss

“I’m looking pretty good now with just the 2 sprints tomorrow” Luke Roberts backing himself and rightly so, he’s been the only guy on the podium everyday aside from the girls and Jimmy!!

 So it all comes down to tomorrow.

Mr Meyer...

“Yes, it’s going to come right down to the wire but I have a good team around me and hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow.”

Goss is at 8 seconds. If he wins tomorrow and Cam doesn’t gain any extra time HTC are celebrating. If he doesn’t win Garmin-Cervelo are the happy team. Mathematically there are other options, but this is where your money should go. Meyer has the jersey, Goss has to take it. Goss is the man of the week, Cam has the move of the week.

Cam is in Ochre and Best Young Gun, Matt Goss is Sprint King, Luke Roberts KOM, Richie Porte Most Aggressive and Movistar are the star team. It all comes down to tomorrow.

 “We’ve all got boyfriends. We haven’t really noticed.”

Lauren, Abbey and Amy Podium girls for the 2011 Santos Tour down Under on the subject of who is the hottest guy in the peloton

Nice to see that not only are the girls attractive and competent throughout the presentations but they’re also faithful to their men.

Who is hot property right now though is Cam Meyer Garmin-Cervelo winner from a break-away on Stage 4. (But let’s not go straight to the back page shall we?)

The peloton rolled out of Norwood at 1100am and as with previous stages they were right on time.

They followed some 7000+ recreational cyclists who rode various lengths of today’s stage in participation of the Mutual Community Challenge Tour for 2011. More often than not, you won’t find the ‘dream teams’ participating here. Here it’s the ‘Average Joe’s’ of Dodgeball fame. And regardless of how hard or easy it is they love doing it.

The goal is to get to the finish before the pros, and most achieve it. The bunch and as it turned out, the break-away, however, are hard on your heels.

Racing began with a steady travel east out of Adelaide up the picturesque Gorge road running alongside the truly Australian ‘Kangaroo Creek Dam’. This steady climb/rolling hills is consistent and warms the legs until the bunch reached the KOM climb for the day.

The first chance for glory on the agenda.

Checker’s Hill. Just under a km but over 13%.

The crowds were out in force, cheering the police on their mountain bikes who were making regular runs up and down the hill keeping everyone safe, whilst also providing unintentional but good natured entertainment. The feeling on the climb was like one of the European Classics; the last climb of Fleche Wallone perhaps?

 Simone Ponzi  Liquigas-Cannondale and Ben Hermans Radioshack attacked and were first over the top. Jack Bobridge Garmin-Cervelo went over 3^rd, the 2011 Australian Road Champion stretching himself out.

The peloton lengthened perhaps keeping 3 maybe 4 at most wide. Andre Griepel OPL went over attacking in the first 10, maybe thinking of the first sprint and time bonuses, Robbie McEwan Radioshack and Matt Goss HTC following close also thinking the same?

The biggest cheers however just like yesterday were for, drum roll, not Lance sitting comfortably in the middle out for a Sunday stroll; rather the battle scarred Mark Cavendish HTC.

Next up; Gumeracha, the first intermediate sprint, here was where time bonuses could be gained.

Robbie McEwan 1^st, Matt Goss 2^nd and ....let me check this, yep, Spain's Francisco Ventoso Movistar  3^rd.

Smart racing, only 2 sec separates Matt and Robbie now for the Ochre jersey.

Then Garmin-Cervelo (Cam Meyer and Matt Wilson) along with some other guys....put their plan into action: 2 guys in the break. (Prior to the KOM, breaks had tried repeatedly to get away but no-one was listening and with the 1^st sprint so close following the KOM, no-one could get away – but now things were a-changing)

The telling move of the day.

Sprint number 2: Balhannah – this definitely sounds like a Viking hall of the dead where grizzled warriors sing songs and are waited on by Valkyries

De Gent VCD 1^st, Kadri AG2R 2^nd and Meyer 3^rd. Time bonuses all valuable as well as UCI points.

The lead stretched out. 2 minutes 30 the break working together despite Kadri dropping back to the peloton.

The approach to Strathalbyn is a twisting one. It’s downhill and lends itself to the break. HTC, OPL and Radioshack started a concentrated chase although out on the road the breakaway were starting to get smart.

“We thought 'the peloton can bring it back whenever they want' so we waited until about 20-30km to go and then we really hit the gas. And when we went, we went strong.” Cam Meyer

At 3km to go the break still had 30 sec. The crowd was sensing they were going to hang on. People knew Cam was in the break, he was an Aussie. People knew HE could do it. The crowd willed it. More importantly Cam willed it.

 It’s amazing the amount of noise a 10yr old kid can generate bashing their hands on a piece of cardboard advertising strung out on a metallic frame barricade.

Cam Meyer put his head down and the noise disappeared. He looked up, raised his fist and something that should not have happened, happened. He beat the peloton to the line.

He beat them enough to be in Ochre. The crowd went nuts.

So how’s it feel to win, to be in the lead?

“I’m thrilled”...” Matt Wilson in the break with me was just unbelievable, I mean I wouldn't have stayed away without him, so it was just the perfect ride and I'm very happy to take my first Pro Tour (World Tour) victory." The win adds to an already impressive resume with Meyer last year awarded the Sir Hubert Opperman Medal when he was named the Australian Cyclist of the Year after claiming three world and three Commonwealth Games gold medals on the track and the Australian time trial crown on the road. He successfully defended the time trial crown earlier this month.

How’s it feel not to be?

Disappointed...check Andre yesterday.

"I don't think we had enough support from the other teams, as we're not the only ones who have goals for the overall, but, unfortunately today we lost time to some of those guys at the front and lost the jersey," said Goss who also surrendered the lead in the young riders classification.

So where are things for tomorrow...well; Cam is in Ochre and Best young rider, Thomas De Gent holds most aggressive and Jayco Sprints, Luke Roberts holds the Skoda KOM and guess-who is the best team: Garmin-Cervelo.

In the words of Jack Bobridge Garmin-Cervelo, “Moving from car 19 to number 1 is pretty fantastic, eh.”

And in case anyone thinks this week has been a cake walk, Bert Grabsch HTC says his legs are tired.

Tomorrow goes to Willunga for Stage 5. It’s climb time.