Tour Down Under: Stage 3 live updates
Roar Rookie By TheSportsFreak, 19 Jan 2012 TheSportsFreak is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Cycling, live blog, Martin Kohler, Simon Gerrans, Tour Down Under, William Clarke
Welcome along to coverage of Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under. Today we start just outside of Adelaide city – Unley, in a 134.5km race.
There’s a 9.5km neutral stage, which is then followed by the official start in Bedford Park. The Tour then rides all the way through to Victor Harbor.
Stage 3 includes 2 Jayco Sprints (Mt Compass 65km and Goolwa 89.4km) and a Category 2 climb in the ŠKODA King of the Mountains (Sellicks Hill 42.9km).
Conditions are warm but not the heat and wind of the first stage. Unley’s max temp is meant to hit around 31C, with a breeze around 10km/hr.
Yesterday was an amazing day for 26-year-old William Clarke. The UniSA Australia rider was the last man picked for the TdU, but decided to take up the pace with BMC rider Martin Kohler after just 1km of racing. While Kohler went for the sprints to steal the leader’s Ochre jersey, Clarke decided to go for glory.
He left Kohler behind after the second sprint point to get the lead out to as much as 12:15. Despite a late charge from the peloton, the Tasmanian took the stage win.
We saw a bit of action late from GreenEDGE led by Simon Gerrans, but it was in vain. We’ve seen how important the sprint points have been so far with the time bonuses they provide, maybe Gerrans will be pushing hard at Mt Compass and Goolwa.
Martin Kohler’s lead is only two seconds. In fact, the top 64 riders are seperated by only 12 seconds, so expect some fireworks today.
Don’t forget, any questions, thoughts or comments – send them through. We’ll do our best to keep you up to date.
We’ll start live blogging on Stage 3 of the SANTOS Tour Down Under from 1130 AEDST (1100 SA Time)
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3:51pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:51pm | Report comment
General Classification – SANTOS Tour Down Under – After Stage 3
Andre Greipel (Ger) (Lotto-Belisol)
Martin Kohler (Sui) (BMC Racing Team) +0:08
Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) +0:12
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:14
Simon Gerrans (Aus) (GreenEDGE) +0:16
ŠKODA King of the Mountain – After Stage 3
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) 12 pts
William Clarke (Aus) (UniSA Australia) 10 pts
Martin Kohler (Sui) (BMC Racing Team) 8pts
Jayco Sprinters Classification – After Stage 3
Andre Greipel (Ger) (Lotto-Belisol) 30pts
Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) (Equipe Cycliste FDJ – Big Mat) 27pts
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling) 24pts
3:25pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:25pm | Report comment
Once everything becomes official, we’ll post the results, but that’s most of the coverage done for today.
The Bupa Stage 4 takes us on a 130km journey from Norwood to Tanunda, in the Barossa Valley. We’ll be back from 1130 AEDT (1100 SA Time), so join me then.
3:18pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:18pm | Report comment
Mad finish once again… but it’s Andre Greipel (Ger) (Lotto-Belisol) who has got 1st spot and may just have snatched back the Ochre jersey from Martin Kohler.
2nd is Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) (Equipe Cycliste FDJ – Big Mat), 3rd is Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling), 4th Mark Renshaw (Aus) (Rabobank), 5th Robbie McEwen (Aus) (GreenEDGE)
3:14pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:14pm | Report comment
At the line…
Andre Greipel looks to have done it!
3:14pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:14pm | Report comment
Here they come with 200m to go. A mass finish on the way. Who will get it? Who will lead out the front?
3:13pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:13pm | Report comment
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) has a puncture near the finish line. Horrible luck. He was part of the 4-man breakaway. Gorka Izagirre (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) also has a puncture.
1 km left
3:12pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:12pm | Report comment
2kms left. Still packed up
3:11pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:11pm | Report comment
Attacks coming from EVERYWHERE now with 3km left.
Euskaltel – Euskadi and UniSA Australia trying to make breaks, but everyone’s back together
3:09pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:09pm | Report comment
5km left to go. Rabobank making a move to the front of the peloton now. Still heavy crosswinds at the finish line
3:06pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:06pm | Report comment
Both Lampre-ISD & GreenEDGE leading from the front and setting the pace for the peloton with 9km to go
3:03pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:03pm | Report comment
10km left. About 15 minutes to go. It’s a very technical finish and you don’t want to get things wrong or it could be pandemonium!
2:59pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:59pm | Report comment
13km left in the race as the peloton nears the finish at Victor Harbor. Expect to see a few minor moves in the last few kms before the sprint finish.
2:51pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:51pm | Report comment
The riders are now on course to finish on time. Just 20km to go moving into the Lower Inman Valley. They’ll head downhill in about 3-5kms time, so get ready for the pace to intensify.
Both riders with the flat tyres (Mol & Lund) back with the peloton now
2:49pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:49pm | Report comment
And those three have now been caught up by the peloton. Meanwhile, two riders having tyre problems – Wouter Mol (Ned) (Vacansoleil-DCM) & Anders Lund (Den) (Saxobank)
2:54pm
Kasey said | 2:54pm | Report comment
Isn’t Wouter Mol the TDU “celebrity” rider chosen at random this year to be treated as though he is Lance/Merckx himself? Great TDU tradition that one:) usually confuses a non-english speakibng Domestique!
3:01pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:01pm | Report comment
He is indeed Kasey. It started in 2010 and is a nice little tradition that’s starting to build.
3:04pm
Kasey said | 3:04pm | Report comment
I love that we love an underdog:) When I was in South Africa for the 2010 WC, I found it odd thatall the ‘neutral’ fans in the stadia all seemed to be barraking for the big name team, like where’s the fun in supporting England over the USA? or Germany over Australia?
3:09pm
Kasey said | 3:09pm | Report comment
For those wondering what the heck we’re on about, here is the story with a brief history:) God I love the Aussie sense of humour:)
http://inrng.com/2012/01/wouter-mol-tour-down-under/
2:46pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:46pm | Report comment
Three riders trying to make a break for it.
Mathew Hayman (Aus) (SKY Procycling), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Esp) (Movistar) & Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) (Vacansoleil-DCM).
Don’t think I like their chances…
2:43pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:43pm | Report comment
Around 25km to go now. The riders taking a left turn into Victor Harbor Ring Route Road. The finish they have goes uphill for about the 110-120km marks, then back downhill for the last 15km. Talk of a strong cross wind at Victor Harbor – makes conditions difficult for a bunch sprint finish.
2:32pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:32pm | Report comment
The riders now just going through Port Elliot at the 102km mark. We’re expecting the race to finish in the next 50 minutes (1520 AEDT or 1450 SA Time).
The trailing nine have caught back up with the peloton
2:26pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:26pm | Report comment
BMC Racing Team and SKY Procycling leading the charge in the peloton as they get to Middleton with about 38km to go.
It’s forced 9 riders off the back
2:19pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:19pm | Report comment
Now everyone’s in the peloton. The front four ALL officially caught with about 43km to go.
2:16pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:16pm | Report comment
The riders coming through Jayco Sprint #2
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) 1st
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha) 3rd
But, the peloton has now caught up to those three. However, Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) is still about 100-200m ahead
2:11pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:11pm | Report comment
Gap now down to 1:05. Peloton will just miss out catching Vorganov/Bakelants/de Gendt/Brammeier to the sprint point I’d say. Although, the cars inbetween the front four and peloton have been asked to move…
2:07pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:07pm | Report comment
5km left for the leading four, but the gap is closing rapidly. 1:30 now, with the peloton about 2km back… might be touch and go as to whether they’ll catch up or not by the time they get past the 2nd sprint point
2:03pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:03pm | Report comment
The peloton is closing the gap once again. 9kms out from the Jayco Sprint #2, the leading quartet are now just 1:50 ahead. They’re steaming towards Goolwa
1:49pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:49pm | Report comment
At the feed station (70km) the gap is now 2:10, so the front four have pushed hard in the last couple of kms.
And now at 72km, the gap increases again to 2:30
1:38pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:38pm | Report comment
Jayco Sprint #1 (Mt Compass)
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) 1st
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha) 3rd
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) (missed points, but in 4th)
But the gap for the Peloton is closing quickly. We’re told it’s down to 1:50
1:31pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:31pm | Report comment
The front four has 5km to go until the Jayco Sprint #1 at Mt Compass. The gap they have is 4:35… it’s not a lot in reality.
Head of the Course
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha)
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan)
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM)
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team)
1:20pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:20pm | Report comment
51km into the race, the peloton have brought the gap back slightly to 4:30. Still climbing a little before they head downhill to Mt Compass. And the right turn they take off Pages Flat Road to Victor Harbor Road to head to Mt Compass is very tight. Need to use some caution.
1:18pm
thesportsfreak said | 1:18pm | Report comment
After all the points have been handed out for the KOM…
ŠKODA King of the Mountain After Stage 3
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) 12 pts
William Clarke (Aus) (UniSA Australia) 10 pts
Martin Kohler (Sui) (BMC Racing Team) 8pts
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) 6pts
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) 4pts
1:09pm
thesportsfreak said | 1:09pm | Report comment
4:40 the gap between the front four and the peloton. The riders still have a fair bit of uphill to go over the next 20km, then it’s downhill to the first Jayco Sprint point at Mount Compass… then they’ll storm their way to Goolwa for Jayco Sprint #2
1:06pm
thesportsfreak said | 1:06pm | Report comment
ŠKODA King of the Mountain
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) 1st
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) 2nd
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) 3rd
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha) 4th
The peloton has just passed through the KOM point about 5mins behind
1:03pm
thesportsfreak said | 1:03pm | Report comment
The peloton halfway up the climb to the top of Sellicks Hill – they are 5:15 behind our top four.
1:01pm
thesportsfreak said | 1:01pm | Report comment
Here comes the leading bunch up Sellicks Hill and Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) takes 1st spot. We’ll get the official placings in just a few moments. Mighty windy weather (as we mentioned before) up top of Sellicks Hill
12:54pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:54pm | Report comment
Just had word the front four are 4km away from the King of the Mountain point at Sellicks Hill
12:50pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:50pm | Report comment
35km down, 99.5km left… and about 7km until the point of the KOM. Lead is 5:25.
Leading group…
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha)
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team)
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan)
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM)
12:41pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:41pm | Report comment
27km in – lead out to 5:20 (around 4km in front of the peloton). Victor Harbor is our finishing point today. Currently 20.6° where it should get to around 23°… while it’s about 25° right now where the riders are – near Aldinga.
Still about 15km until the ŠKODA King of the Mountain point at Sellicks Hill.
12:32pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:32pm | Report comment
Just checked the conditions at Sellicks Hill… it’s windy as all heck! In fact it’s been like that for the last 48 hours. SSE at 37km/h with gusts up to 46km/h.
GreenEDGE, Lotto-Belisol & Rabobank up front in the peloton, but still needing to reel back around 5:05 at 24km on our leading group of four. Reckon they might be left alone for the moment…
12:26pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:26pm | Report comment
21km into the race as the riders now head along Main South Rd just out of Huntfield Heights… the gap increases slightly to 4:50
12:21pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:21pm | Report comment
At 18km, this gap is widening to 4:30. They’ll be looking for some points in the ŠKODA King of the Mountain classification.
Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha)
Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan)
Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM)
Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team)
12:14pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:14pm | Report comment
The leading pack now lead it by 3:15 through around 14km. There’s a fair bit of downhill between now and the lead up to Sellicks Hill. That climb starts at around the 37km mark
12:08pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:08pm | Report comment
The gap at the 10km mark is 55 seconds.
The leading four… Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha), Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) & Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM), Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team)
12:05pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:05pm | Report comment
Those four have been caught… the original three on the breakaway still out in front by 200m – Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha), Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) & Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM). At 8km, they’ve been joined by Matthew Brammeier (Irl) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team)
12:02pm
thesportsfreak said | 12:02pm | Report comment
Four riders breaking away from the peloton – Stuart O’Grady (Aus) (GreenEDGE), Wilco Kelderman (Ned) (Rabobank), Javier Moreno (Esp) (Movistar) & Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) (UniSA Australia). Just 3km in.
11:58am
thesportsfreak said | 11:58am | Report comment
Three riders – Eduard Vorganov (Rus) (Katusha), Jan Bakelants (Bel) (RadioShack-Nissan) & Thomas de Gendt (Bel) (Vacansoleil-DCM) -part of a quick attack early, but they’ve been shut down by the peloton immediately.
Now Stuart O’Grady’s on the attack with three others!
11:56am
thesportsfreak said | 11:56am | Report comment
According to one or two reports, the race organisers had to warn the riders about… taking the call of nature in public.
11:55am
thesportsfreak said | 11:55am | Report comment
And they cross the start line. Off we go! Very intriguing to see who goes on the attack early. With it being so close up the top, sprint bonus seconds will be massive later in the day.
11:51am
thesportsfreak said | 11:51am | Report comment
We’re just a couple minutes away from the actual race getting underway. That will start the 134.5km trip which includes a Category 2 climb up Sellicks Hill, followed by two sprint points before they get to Victor Harbor
11:38am
thesportsfreak said | 11:38am | Report comment
While we wait for the race to begin in earnest, have a read of Adrian Musolino’s unique view of yesterday’s Stage 2… from one of the TdU race cars! http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/19/a-day-on-the-road-with-cyclings-pro-tour/
11:36am
thesportsfreak said | 11:36am | Report comment
It’s the same course that was used in 2008 – that was won by Aussie Allan Davis. We’re hoping for another Aussie win today. Will it come from GreenEDGE? Can Will Clarke recover from yesterday’s Herculean effort to get up near the front runners throughout the race?
11:32am
thesportsfreak said | 11:32am | Report comment
Martin Kohler is the Ochre jersey wearer after gaining some bonus seconds from the sprints yesterday to just get ahead of Andre Greipel.
As TdU boss Mike Turtur drops the red flag to get them underway… sort of.
11:28am
Tristan Rayner said | 11:28am | Report comment
Looking forward to the coverage, thesportsfreak
11:27am
Tristan Rayner said | 11:27am | Report comment
Conditions are forecast for a much cooler 23C, but it’s always warmer on the road.
11:27am
thesportsfreak said | 11:27am | Report comment
We’re just about to kick off in Unley for the 11th time in the Tour Down Under. Very good morning.
We’ve got 9.5km of nothingness before the ridgy-didge cycling gets underway in Bedford Park
11:26am
Tristan Rayner said | 11:26am | Report comment
Before the riders head off for Victor Harbor, Andre Greipel spoke with the TDU Official site. He is currently second on the GC at 0:02.
“I think everybody felt a bit tired from the heat from the first stage but it is important to just stay in the bunch. Of course the bunch was going very fast, but in the end we didn’t catch the breakaway.
[Will Clarke] did a good job there, he was pretty strong so hats off for him. We will see how the race will develop but we need to call on other teams for a bunch sprint.”