January 24, 2014 (Victor Harbor, Australia) – It took him longer than he hoped but André Greipel today added a fifteenth stage win to his Santos Tour Down Under tally with victory in the Bupa Stage 4 into Victor Harbor while overnight leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) came under pressure but remains in the lead overall.

Evans went into the stage with a 12 second lead over compatriot and rival Simon Gerrans but at the end of the day that had been whittled down to seven seconds due to a concerted assault by the Orica-GreenEDGE team.

Precious seconds were on offer early in today’s stage that departed from the cosmopolitan Adelaide suburb of Unley and headed out through the Adelaide Hills to the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula for a 149 kilometre stage with 115 thousand fans treated to some sensational racing action.

The first Adam Internet intemediate sprint was contested at Echunga, 25km into the stage which meant the pace was on from the start with the contenders anxious to claw back time on Evans.

Gerrans was set up superbly by his team mates and claimed the maximum three seconds to close his deficit on Evans to nine seconds. His Orica-GreenEDGE team mate, Matt Goss, was second ahead of Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp) who claimed a one second bonus.

“Today it went pretty well with the time bonus I was after,” said Gerrans. “Our plan was to chase the first breakaway if it was within reach before the first intermediate sprint, and if not, we’d target the second.

“We eventually managed to do both,” said Gerrans. I’m pretty happy with that.”

After the furore of the early pace Frenchman Axel Domant (AG2R – La Mondiale) and Australian Cameron Wurf (Cannondale) eventually rode clear and at one stage were more than four minutes ahead of the peloton.

The only Skoda King of the Mountain climb of the day was at at the 96 kilometre mark at Myponga where Domant took ten points ahead of Wurf. Not long after Australian Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) led the chasing group across to add four points to his tally and hold onto the green polka-dot jersey for another day.

Crosswinds and an energetic chase split the peloton with around 40 riders, including the main overall contenders, riding into the front group. The fact the second Adam Internet sprint of the day at Yankalilla, 30 kilometres from the finish, was fast approaching also added intensity to the pace with Orica-GreenEDGE hoping Gerrans would score another bonus.

He did, but not the mamimum because Garmin-Sharp steered Haas through to steal the three seconds. Gerrans had to settle for second place and two seconds while Italian Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) grabbed a one second bonus.

Bike trouble struck for Evans just before the sprint but after a bike change, and with assistance from his team mates, he rejoined the leaders.

“It’s been a nervous day with the wind and Orica really took control of the race putting the whole team (on the front) for the intermediate sprints,” said Evans. “The first one didn’t go favourably for me and the second one was even worse.

“Looking at the numbers, we have four stages favourable to Orica and two for me, so numbers-wise it’s not in my advantage but of course Willunga will be important,” said Evans of tomorrow’s Queen stage that ends atop Old Willunga Hill. “Certainly if Orica keep going for the intermediate sprints they can eat away at seven seconds pretty quickly.

“It’s certainly not my area of expertise and Simon is good in the sprints and has a very, very good team for that…. but we’ll see what happens on the way to Willunga. With the finish line at the top I think everyone is going to be looking at Willunga of course, and it goes back into my area of racing and experience.

“Of course to win the race I’m going to have to do something pretty special there.”

Gerrans tried to grab more seconds on Evans at the finish but just missed out placing fourth across the line.

“It would have been great to finish one place higher and get more time bonus but a flat bunch sprint finish isn’t my speciality,” said Gerrans. “With two stages to go, the race for the overall win remains wide open. The race is far from won.”

Meantime Greipel, who was pipped for the win in Sunday’s People’s Choice Classic and was second again in the San Remo Pasta Stage 1, had earmarked today as his and he was piloted to the finishing straight by the Lotto-Belisol express. Right behind him was team mate Jurgen Roelandts from Belgium with Italian Elia Viviani (Cannondale) third.

“I was always confident that I’d win something here. In the inaugural criterium in Adelaide and in stage 1, I just made mistakes but that can happen in sprinting,” said Greipel.

“Before today’s stage, I thought this would be the first day for a sprint,” said the German champion who in 2012 also won the stage into Victor Harbor and holds the event record for the most stage wins. “Coming first and second says enough of the great work our team Lotto-Belisol has done today.

“It was nervous all along, Orica-GreeenEDGE had six guys at the front of the bunch but we put pressure on them after the intermediate sprint,” Greipel explained.

“I know the area of Victor Harbor pretty well. I know the last climb too. It’s quite open to the wind. The way we rode as a team makes it a well deserved win,” he said.

It was a bonus that Roelandts held on for second place.

“I was a bit nervous with 8km to go because we had all the pressure to win,” said Roelandts. “We hit that last chicane with André in perfect position and after leading him out, I sat up a bit, but when I saw no one coming around me, I restarted my sprint to finish second.

“That’s always nice for the points and the confidence, knowing the work over the winter has paid off.”

Lotto-Belisol had more reason to celebrate with Adam Hansen doing the hard yards for Greipel but still managing to hold on to the Skoda King of the Mountain category. But he admits his aim now is a high overall place (he is currently sitting in 12th place).

“To win with André is why we’re here and today was our big goal with him,” said Hansen. “I just stayed near him as much as possible during the stage and did my job when attacks went in the final hill. I closed the gap to the attackers and made sure I had my guys in a good position to lead André out.

“He’s one of the best sprinters in the world so we always believe in him to be able to win,” said Hansen.
20 year old UniSA-Australia rider, Jack Haig, had a fabulous day in the saddle finishing with the lead group to grab the Cycle Instead Young Rider jersey.

“With all the crosswinds, it was a question of staying out of the gutter. The bunch split and I was the only young rider up there I think. Anyway the kid from FDJ [Kenny Elissonde] wasn’t so I take the jersey over from him,” explained Haig. “I have a really good chance to win this jersey tomorrow because I’m a good climber.

“This is my first Santos Tour Down Under, it’s amazing!”

The Europcar Most Competitive Rider for the stage was awarded to Wurf who says his ride was motivated by past events.

“What happened in the Giro (Tour of Italy) last year (was) every time I went into a breakaway, Elia Viviani got a good result, so he did today too.” said the former rowing champion.

“I attacked again in the final climb to get the sprint trains disorganised. I was hungry today because I was very disappointed yesterday to not get the position I wanted up to Corkscrew climb.”

“With Jens Voigt, we also have a bit of a competition running for being the rider who attacks the most,” said Wurf of the Trek Factory Racing team rider who scored yesterday’s Europcar Most Competitive Rider award.

Early this morning more than six thousand participants rode out from Unley for the Bupa Challenge Tour, a recreational ride for enthusiasts from Australia and overseas. They rode over three varying distances to the finish under the official Bupa Stage 4 finish arch in Victor Harbor.

Stage 4

1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol 3:33:07
2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale
4. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica Greenedge
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin Sharp
6. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica Greenedge
7. Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
8. Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo
9. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr
10. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
11. Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin Sharp
12. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
13. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
14. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
15. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
16. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Team Sky
17. Stef Clement (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
18. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
19. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
20. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
21. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
22. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
23. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky
24. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
25. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha
26. Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol
27. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
28. Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
29. Jack Haig (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
30. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team
31. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida
32. Jack Bauer (Nzl) Garmin Sharp
33. Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Belisol
34. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
35. Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin Sharp
36. Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
37. Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha
38. Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
39. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
40. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team
41. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol
42. Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
43. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.fr
44. Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Esp) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
45. Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
46. Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team Katusha
47. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky
48. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale
49. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
50. Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
51. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
52. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team
53. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin Sharp
54. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
55. Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky
56. Travis Meyer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:00:19
57. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
58. Ian Stannard (Gbr) Team Sky 0:00:29
59. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol 0:00:39
60. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:00:41
61. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:00:52
62. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:00:56
63. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:02:28
64. Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team Europcar 0:13:55
65. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
66. Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team
67. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
68. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
69. Graeme Brown (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
70. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
71. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ.fr
72. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
73. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
74. Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJ.fr
75. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing
76. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale
77. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica Greenedge
78. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica Greenedge
79. Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
80. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing
81. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
82. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ.fr
83. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano
84. Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
85. Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
86. Michal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo
87. Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
88. Bradley Linfield (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
89. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
90. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing
91. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin Sharp
92. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale
93. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha
94. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team
95. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
96. Imanol Erviti Ollo (Esp) Movistar Team
97. Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing
98. José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Esp) Movistar Team
99. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team
100. Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Esp) Movistar Team
101. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
102. Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
103. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida
104. Mark O’Brien (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
105. Rick Flens (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
106. Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
107. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team
108. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team
109. Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team Katusha
110. Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Team Katusha
111. Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
112. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr
113. Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ.fr
114. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Merida
115. Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro Team
116. Luca Wackermann (Ita) Lampre-Merida
117. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
118. Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
119. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale
120. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida
121. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano
122. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar
123. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
124. Matthias Krizek (Aut) Cannondale
125. Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar
126. George Bennett (Nzl) Cannondale
127. Neil Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
128. Luke Rowe (Gbr) Team Sky
129. William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
130. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky
131. Campbell Flakemore (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
132. Andrew Fenn (Gbr) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
133. Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team Europcar
134. Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha
DNF Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Lotto Belisol

GC after Stage 4

1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 14:19:46
2. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:00:07
3. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:00:14
4. Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:00:23
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 0:00:29
6. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Team Sky
7. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica Greenedge 0:00:33
8. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
9. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
10. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky
11. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team
12. Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol
15. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
20. Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
21. Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin Sharp
22. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha
23. Jack Haig (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
24. Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
27. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
28. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
29. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale
30. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:33
31. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:02:37
32. Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Esp) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
33. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
34. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky
35. Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
36. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team
37. Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky
38. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol 0:03:29
39. Jack Bauer (Nzl) Garmin Sharp 0:03:35
40. Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:04:27
41. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:04:35
42. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team 0:04:54
43. Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:46
44. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:06:00
45. Stef Clement (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 0:06:30
46. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:06:52
47. Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team Katusha
48. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol 0:06:53
49. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:07:03
50. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar 0:07:13
51. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol
52. Ian Stannard (Gbr) Team Sky 0:07:21
53. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol 0:07:52
54. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:08:19
55. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 0:09:55
56. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale 0:12:42
57. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:12:54
58. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:13:20
59. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:14:24
60. Travis Meyer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
61. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:14:56
62. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ.fr
63. Luca Wackermann (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:15:13
64. George Bennett (Nzl) Cannondale
65. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team 0:15:47
66. Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
67. Mark O’Brien (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
68. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar
69. Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:15:56
70. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin Sharp 0:16:02
71. Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team Europcar 0:16:32
72. Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team Europcar
73. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:17:30
74. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing 0:18:30
75. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:19:47
76. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team 0:19:57
77. Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team
78. Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 0:20:25
79. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team
80. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:20:35
81. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
82. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:21:23
83. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing 0:21:31
84. Bradley Linfield (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
85. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale 0:22:14
86. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale
87. Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ.fr
88. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing 0:22:19
89. Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
90. José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Esp) Movistar Team 0:22:23
91. Imanol Erviti Ollo (Esp) Movistar Team
92. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:22:30
93. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:22:52
94. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr
95. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:23:02
96. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 0:23:25
97. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Uni-SA Australia
98. Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro Team 0:23:50
99. Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:24:00
100. Michal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:24:57
101. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 0:25:01
102. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar 0:25:34
103. Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:25:57
104. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing 0:27:02
105. Matthias Krizek (Aut) Cannondale 0:27:46
106. Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Esp) Movistar Team 0:27:59
107. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:28:14
108. Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
109. Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:28:17
110. Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing 0:28:30
111. Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:29:08
112. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale 0:29:12
113. Luke Rowe (Gbr) Team Sky
114. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:29:19
115. Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:29:30
116. Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha 0:29:50
117. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:31:21
118. Andrew Fenn (Gbr) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:32:35
119. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky 0:34:06
120. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano
121. Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:34:14
122. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 0:35:06
123. Rick Flens (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
124. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:36:17
125. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida
126. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:37:40
127. Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar 0:38:49
128. William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:39:59
129. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:40:16
130. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica Greenedge 0:41:47
131. Neil Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Uni-SA Australia 0:48:42
132. Graeme Brown (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 0:48:47
133. Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:51:54
134. Campbell Flakemore (Aus) Uni-SA Australia 0:53:33

Classification Results

•    Santos Ochre Leader – Cadel Evans (AUS | BMC Racing Team)
•    Adam Internet Sprint Leader – Simon Gerrans (AUS | Orica-GreenEDGE)
•    Skoda King of the Mountain leader – Adam Hansen (AUS | Lotto-Belisol)
•    Cycle Instead Young Rider leader -Jack Haig (AUS | UniSA-Australia)
•    Europcar Most Competitive Rider – Cameron Wurf (AUS | Cannondale)
•    Hindmarsh Leading Team – BMC Racing Team