Galloping Goss claims Angaston glory

 

Tasmanian Matthew Goss (HTC - Highroad) has stormed home to win the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Under.

Goss sprinted home at the end of the 138km IG Markets Stage One from Mawson Lakes to the Barossa town of Angaston in a time of 3:17:08 with defending Tour champion, Andre Greipel (GER / Omega Pharma-Lotto) second and Queensland's Robbie McEwen (Radioshack) close behind in third place.

The win by the 24 year old comes two days after he outpaced the same world class field of international sprint heavyweights in the Cancer Council Classic on Sunday night.

"I am really happy to get the win for me and the team (because) they rode all day it's for them," said Goss. "Two for two, great for team moral and spirit, a good few days I think."

In close to perfect conditions, 133 riders set off from Mawson Lakes with an estimated 101 thousand cycling fans lining the course especially in the towns and villages that dotted the route.

The first attack of the day came early as a small group broke clear to contest the Skoda King of the Mountain climb at Hillbank, eleven kilometres into the stage.

South Australian Luke Roberts claimed the points and the lead in the KOM classification with Spain's Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) second and Frenchman Julien Loubet (AG2R la Mondiale) third over the hill.

Soon after the climb a group of five riders established a lead over the peloton. Australians Simon Clarke (Astana) and Mitch Docker (UniSA-Australia) along with Spaniards Miguel Minguez and Jon Izaguirre, both of Euskaltel-Euskadi and French rider Mathieu Perget (AG2R la Mondiale) contested both Jayco Intermediate sprints of the day.

Docker won the first contest at Sandy Creek (45.6km) ahead of Minguez and Clarke. Only seven kilometres later at Lyndoch it was Perget that claimed maximum points ahead of Clarke and Minguez.

The break edged out to four minutes before the peloton began to peg it back. The sprinter's teams, led by HTC-Highroad's Mark Cavendish (GBR) had closed the gap to two minutes as the riders crossed under the finishing arch at Angaston to begin two laps of the 28 kilometre loop through Nuriootpa and Tanunda.

Over the final thirty kilometres, Greipel's Omega Pharma-Lotto team and Australia's Michael Rogers (Sky Pro Cycling), joined the chase and 10 kilometres from home they reeled in the leaders to set the scene for a heart stopping finale.

Renshaw did what he does best, setting a cracking pace on the front to lead out his team mate who waited until the line was in sight to slingshot from Renshaw's wheel and claim the win leaving his rivals in his wake.

"It was a long sprint out of the last corner so I was 'kinda' worried, but Renshaw did a great job," explained Goss, adding "He got me to 250 metres to go, and although it is slightly uphill, I managed to hold on to the end."

Despite the blistering form he's displayed this week and at the Australian Championships earlier this month where he claimed the silver medal Goss has downplayed any early suggestions of an overall victory.

"It is an ideal start but there is a lot of days left of racing. I am in a good position now but it isn't just me, in the team.

"Cav is still one of the fastest guys here (and) I am sure we will see him, if not in the next couple of days (then) before the end of the race," said Goss of his sprint superstar team mate Mark Cavendish.

Goss goes into the second stage wearing the Santos ochre leader's jersey and is four seconds ahead of Greipel overall and six seconds up on McEwen. Goss also leads the Cycle Instead Young Rider and Jayco Sprint classifications.

Clarke was named the Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider for the stage and Sky Pro Cycling is leading the Brilliant Blend Teams Classification. Roberts leads the Skoda King of the Mountain competition.

Tomorrow's IG Markets Stage 2 will see the riders cover 146 kilometres from Tailem Bend to Mannum on the banks of the Murray River.