January 22, 2015 (Australia) – The first leg of the 2015 UCI WorldTour series got underway this week with the popular six-stage Santos Tour Down Under in Australia. After three stages, four Australians are ranked in the top five overall, led by Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team is the lone Canuck in the peloton. He currently sits in 42nd overall.
Stage 1 – January 20 – 133km – Tanunda to Campbelltown
Homegrown hero Jack Bobridge has grabbed all the glory on the opening day winning the stage and claiming the overall lead in the Santos Tour Down Under, the first UCI World Tour event of the season.
It was a welcome result for the 85 thousand cycling fans who turned out to support Hostworks Stage 1 that rode out from the charming Barossa Valley town of Tanunda for two circuits through the nearby wine growing region before heading across undulating terrain blackened by the recent South Australian bushfire, to the finish in Campbelltown.
25 year old Bobridge, racing in the UniSA-Australia team, sprinted across the line in just under three hours, 20 minutes ahead of the predicted finish time, with Dutchman Lieuwe Westra (Astana) second and West Australian Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEDGE) third.
The bonus time Bobridge collected for the stage win and during the day has put him in the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey, four seconds clear of Westra with Durbridge sitting third overall at six seconds.
It’s the first time in Ochre for Bobridge. The track world record holder and Olympic silver medallist recently moved back to Australia to race domestically and to focus on earning selection in the track squad for the Rio Olympic Games. He is also enjoying fatherhood after wife and fellow Olympian Josie Tomic gave birth to their daughter four months ago.
Bobridge grew up training on the same roads he raced on today and had promised before the start that he’d be one to watch. But it was a close run thing with the peloton thundering across the line, so close in fact that no time margin was awarded at the finish.
“I know these roads like the back of my hand, so I hope that can be an advantage,” said Bobridge in Tanunda before the race began. “We’ll be getting into some breaks, and try to win a stage. That would be huge for our team.”
True to his word he launched an audacious attack in the opening few kilometres of the 132 kilometre stage with Durbridge, Westra, and Russian Maxim Belkov (Katusha) joining him in front.
The quartet rode out to a lead of just over two minutes but it seemed the peloton had their measure and was comfortable with the gap, confident they could reel the leaders in at will.
At the first of two iiNet intermediate sprints of the day, at Bethany, 28 kilometres into the stage, it was Bobridge who collected the maximum points ahead of Westra and Belkov.
The second time through Bethany, at 60 kilometres, it was Durbridge in front with Belkov and Westra crossing behind him.
After the second loop through Tanunda the breakaway group maintained their lead up to the Subaru King of the Mountain Category 2 climb of Checker Hill where thousands of fans and cyclists dotted the fire ravaged landscape waiting to cheer them on.
Over the top is was Bobridge first ahead of Durbridge, Westra and Belkov but even they expected their time at the front would soon come to an end as the gap to the peloton came down.
“To be honest, when we heard we had only 20 seconds or so over the bunch, all the guys pretty much gave up,” said Bobridge. “It was an all day game. We played it perfect and stayed away.
“Having Luke Durbridge along in the break, not only another Australian but a good mate of mine, was an advantage,” he said. “The other advantage I had was knowing the roads.”
Bobridge admits he didn’t want to make the same mistake he made at the recent Australian Championships when he ‘went too early’.
“I learned a lesson at the Nationals,” he said. “The bunch was charging just behind us but (today) I kept it cool. I’ve always been aggressive in this race but (this is my) first time winning a stage and being the leader tomorrowŠ I’m speechless”
Durbridge says all four in front contributed to the attack.
“We were four big engines at the front and all very committed,” said Durbridge. “Everyone did about the same amount of work and that made our breakaway work.
“We enjoyed a tailwind going down from Checker Hill and the Gorge was protected,” he explained adding that local knowledge was invaluable. “Jack and I knew where to go hard and where to go easy and we told the Europeans.”
It was advice the European pair in front appreciated and followed.
“It was a good group, good riders,” said Westra. “The peloton never gave us much room (but) when we had a good gap over the climb we knew we might have a chance.
“When it’s downhill like that it’s not so easy to chase back,” he said. “In the sprint for the stage Bobridge was too strong. Second for me was the best I could do Š.. second in the season’s first World Tour race isn’t so bad.”
One team was more disappointed than most that the break wasn’t reeled in before the line and that was Giant-Alpecin who had hoped to set up sprint powerhouse Marcel Kittel for a host at the win.
“We were hoping for some more help in the chase, but everyone was a bit too relaxed,” said Kittel’s team mate Simon Geschke. “We could see them down the road, but in the narrow canyon, it was harder to organise the chase and Astana was blocking a little bit.
“Marcel [Kittel] made it over the climb pretty easy, so we are disappointed. We want to win a stage with Marcel, and today was a good opportunity we missed. It motivates us more to keep fighting here.”
Along with his overall race lead Bobridge also leads the iiNet Sprint Competition but the jersey will be worn tomorrow by Westra while for the Subaru King of the Mountain competition which is also topped by Bobridge the jersey will be on the shoulders of Belkov.
Durbridge is the leader of the Cycle Instead Young Rider classification and was also named the Europcar Most Competitive for the day for his attacking efforts.
The Virgin Australia leading team after day one is the UniSA-Australia national team.
Tomorrow the race travels along a 150 kilometre route starting in stylish Adelaide suburb of Unley before climbing to Windy Point, through Upper Sturt and onto the testing circuits through Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.
Stage 2 – January 21 – 150km – Unley to Stirling
Spain’s Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle has claimed victory in the southaustralia.com Stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under to move within three seconds of the overall lead of South Australian Jack Bobridge.
Twenty-six year old Lobato launched a powerful surge on the uphill drag into the Adelaide Hills hamlet of Stirling to claim his eighth win as a professional. He held off South African Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEDGE) with Lobato’s Movistar team mate, Gorka Izaguirre Insausti, completing the top three.
“It’s a victory on a different type of terrain for me,” said Lobato who on Sunday was second in the super fast sprint finish of the People’s Choice Classic. Today he showed he also has the legs for an uphill sprint.
“I’m coming here in good form, but thanks to God, I was able to deliver victory for the team,” said Lobato. “We have a great team here, we’re always at the front at every race we go to.”
“I am very content to start the season like this and I am grateful for my team,” he said. “I’ve had two years of good results, and I couldn’t start off 2015 any better.”
But even though he is now sitting second overall he admits the team has other riders with aspirations to win overall.
“I am not discounting anything (but) I came here to go well on this finale (stage finish) and I’ve raced here the past two years,” he said adding that Movistar used last week for targeted training on the Stage 2 route and in particular the Stirling circuit.
The best laid plans were almost derailed however when Lobato punctured in the last 25 kilometres.
“We knew that Lobato was climbing well, and that he could get up the difficulties better than the other sprinters but he used a bit of energy to chase back (after the puncture) so we were not sure going into the final sprint how he would react,” said Movistar Director Jose Luis Arrieta. “It’s a very important victory for us, and for his confidence as well.”
For Bobridge the support from the side of the road provided extra incentive, if any was needed, to dig deep for the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey.
“It wasn’t an easy ride after yesterday’s,” said Bobridge who was a driving force in a four man breakaway that led to first first stage win in the Tour. “It was pretty lumpy from the word go, it wasn’t much flat today, it was super hard indeed.
“I take my hat off to my team-mates, they’ve been sensational,” said Bobridge of the UniSA-Australia riders. “I was following Richie Porte (Team Sky) with one kilometre to go. He gapped me but luckily other riders kept me connected with the bunch.”
That meant he finished in the middle of the group of 50 odd riders who were awarded the same time as the stage winner.
“I came here to look after the young guys but now I’m in the jersey and I’m one hundred percent focused on defending this ochre jersey.”
Bobridge is due to make an attempt on the prestigious hour record but that is for next week.
“Now it’s all for this jersey,” he said. “All the way, there were people cheering for me, it’s fantastic.”
Today’s stage travelled along a 150 kilometre course starting in the stylish Adelaide suburb of Unley before climbing to Windy Point, through Upper Sturt and onto the testing circuits through Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.
The riders set off under cloudy skies and cool conditions, perfect for the 122 thousand fans who lined the roads.
The stage featured a Category 2 climb in the Subaru King of the Mountain (KOM) competition and two intermediate iiNet Sprints.
The climb came at the 30 kilometre mark but the roads leading up to it were testing on the legs prompting a flurry of early attacks.
Eventually the one that stuck was launched by West Australian Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE) who was joined by compatriot Campbell Flakemore (BMC Racing) and Belgian Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).
That result put De Gendt level on points but second on countback to overnight Bobridge at the top of the Subaru KOM standings.
“It was a hard start and that’s the kind of start I like in a race,” he said. “To get away in these conditions, you have to be one of the best in the field so I knew the riders away with me would only be good riders.”
By the time the trio arrived at the 1.3 kilometre tester with a seven percent gradient they had set up a handy lead. De Gendt collected top points ahead of Flakemore and Meyer with South Australian Miles Scotson (UniSA-Australia) leading the peloton across the summit just over three minutes later.
At the first of the iiNet sprints in Verdun at the 50 kilometre mark De Gendt picked up six points and the maximum three second bonus ahead of Meyer and Flakemore.
The trio’s lead hovered between three and four minutes as the race wound it’s way through the Adelaide Hills towards Stirling for the first of two laps to finish the stage.
As the leaders approached the second iiNet Sprint at Mylor, 50 kilometres from the finish, their lead had been whittled down to under two minutes as Team Sky, IAM Cycling and Bobridge’s UniSA-Australia team mates upped the chase pace.
De Gendt again grabbed the maximum sprint points spot with Meyer second and Flakemore third.
“At the team meeting this morning, we decided to ride GC for (Australian) Adam Hansen,” said De Gendt. “Four years ago I also broke clear with (eventual overall winner) Cameron Meyer and I’ve done it with him at other races too. He was the strongest today.
“In the intermediate sprints I wanted to take some seconds, not for myself but for taking them away from potential rivals for Hansen,” explained De Gendt.
Once the trio reached Stirling the peloton uped the pace reeling them in before the final 20 kilometre circuit.
Australian Calvin Watson (Trek Factory Racing) and Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing) then tried to escape but it wasn’t to be and they were soon back in the bunch.
Thursday’s 143 kilometre Thomas Foods Stage 3 is expected to shake up the race as the riders depart the inner-city suburb of Norwood, head out through the Adelaide Hills orchards and vineyards to a hilltop finish in Paracombe.
Stage 3 – January 22 – 143km – Norwood to Paracombe
Rohan Dennis has snatched the race lead with a convincing kick on the uphill finish into Paracombe on Thomas Foods Stage 3 of the Santos Tour Down Under.
Close behind the 24 year old was his BMC Racing team mate and compatriot Cadel Evans with Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) in third place.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect to win,” said Dennis of his stage victory. “The plan was for me to attack halfway into the climb but I was too far back to follow the plan.
“I have the ochre (leader’s) jersey now but Cadel and I are still both protected,” he explained. “There’s still Willunga (Stage 5) and a lot of racing to come.”
The Santos Tour Down Under will be the final World Tour event for Evans who retires from racing next month. He is now sitting second overall, seven seconds behind Dennis and in prime position to end his 20 year cycling career with a victory.
“We had a plan, covering two bases, but I want to lend a favour to my teammates when I can, so we wanted to give Rohan (Dennis) and Peter (Stetina) the chance to make an attack anywhere they could,” said Evans. “That move really worked for us, and I am sure Rohan is going to be pretty happy.
“We want to stay where we are. It’s not easy, there is a lot of racing still to go,” Evans said. “Today narrows down who we have to watch.”
Today’s racing was expected to shake up the rankings and it did just that with the short, steep Torrens Hill Road ascent giving the climbers a chance to unleash on the final climb at the end of the 143 kilometre stage that began in the inner-city suburb of Norwood and headed out through the Adelaide Hills orchards and vineyards to Paracombe.
The hot, windy conditions didn’t deter the fans with 108 thousand coming out to watch the show.
In similar fashion to the previous two stages a small group rode clear early sparked by an attack from Australian Will Clarke (Drapac). Chasing after and joining him in front was fellow Australian Calvin Watson (Trek Racing), Denmark’s Lasse Norman Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin) and French rider Axel Domont (AG2R La Mondiale).
The quartet stretched their lead to around three minutes and contested the first two of the three iiNet intermediate sprints at Charleston.
Clarke was first at the 67 kilometre sprint ahead of Hansen and Domont and it was the same result 26 kilometres later. But before they reached the third sprint at the 118 kilometre mark Domont found the going in front too hot to handle and dropped back.
The third iiNet Sprint was won by Clarke ahead of Hansen with Watson third.
As the leaders passed by the 20 kilometre to go sign the peloton was fast closing the gap and Hansen soon called quits on the attack. Watson joined him soon after leaving only the instigator of the break, Clarke, alone in front.
But those in the know wanted to be in front when the race turned hard right from Gorge Road onto the climb and Clarke’s efforts to hold his lead were in vain. Just under nine kilometres to go he was swallowed by the bunch but his efforts earned him the daily award of Europcar Most Competitive Rider.
“This morning it was either me or (team mate) Travis Meyer who’d go away,” said Clarke. “He got pulled back after I tried first so it was my turn.
“Being out there I thought I had to go for the sprints,” he said. “The first one wasn’t difficult but the second one was. Lasse Hansen jumped a bit… He’s an Olympic gold medallist for omnium so it was a surprise that I got him in the sprints!
“Towards the end the other guys were a bit tired so I tried to go away again But I had no illusions,” said Clarke.
Once he was captured the jostling for position intensified and not everything went to plan even for the winner.
“I was caught further back but I rode with no stress as Cadel was away with Richie (Porte – Team Sky)…,” said Dennis. “I stayed behind a Movistar rider hoping that he’d bring me back to the front.
“Thumbs up to Cadel,” said Dennis. “He’s a man of little words but we’ve done well together today.”
Dennis took over the race lead from fellow Olympic track silver medallist and South Australian Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) who was 40 seconds back in 29th place. Behind Dennis and Evans on the overall rankings is Dumoulin at nine seconds with Porte heading six riders who are all sitting at 15 seconds off the lead.
Dennis was also first over the only Subaru King of the Mountain contest today which was 400 metres from the finish line. He went over the summit first picking up the maximum points for the Category 1 climb ahead of Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) and Evans.
That moved him to the top of the climber’s contest and he is also the leader in the Cycle Instead Best Young Rider classification.
Evans now leads the iiNet Sprint competition due to his accumulated points for stage finishes over the past three days and BMC is the Virgin Australia leading team.
Tomorrow’s Bupa Stage 4 will see thousands of recreational cyclists in the Bupa Challenge Tour pave the way for the pros who will they race from beachside Glenelg to the city of Mount Barker, a distance of 145 kilometres.
Results
Stage 1
1. Jack Bobridge (Aus) UniSA-Australia 2:59:44
2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team
3. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
4. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha
5. Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-Merida
90. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
Stage 2
1. Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar Team 3:42:24
2. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge
3. Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Esp) Movistar Team
4. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
5. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
55. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 0:34
Stage 3
1. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 3:35:08
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:03
3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
4. Maxime Bouet (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:05
5. Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
37. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 0:50
GC after Stage 3
1. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 10:17:06
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:07
3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:09
4. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:15
5. Jack Haig (Aus) UniSA-Australia
42. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 1:34
Full results here.