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2014 Tour Down Under: Stage 5 live blog, updates

25th January, 2014
2014 Tour Down Under - Stage 5

McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill

Start: 11.00am AEDT
Distance: 151.2km
Will Clarke is gearing up for another Tour Down Under with Drapac. (David Hill Photography / The Roar)
Roar Guru
25th January, 2014
140
1595 Reads

A decisive battle for the overall victory at the 2014 Tour Down Under looms large on Stage 5 from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill (151.5km). Join us from 11.30am AEDT for live updates.

All eyes will be on the battle between Cadel Evans, of BMC, and second placed Simon Gerrans, of Orica – GreenEDGE for the Ochre Jersey.

However, with just 14 seconds separating race leader Cadel Evans from third placed Diego Ulissi, of Lampre–Merida, no one can afford to underestimate the Italian.

The peloton will climb Willunga Hill twice, with the decisive showdown between Cadel Evans and Simon Gerrans for the Ochre Jersey anticipated to happen during the second, and final, ascent.

Usually a climb for explosive Puncheurs, Willunga Hill features an average gradient of 7.4 percent spread over a distance of three kilometres.

After almost claiming all six bonus seconds during yesterday’s fourth stage, finishing first at the first intermediate sprint and second at the second intermediate sprint, will Orica–GreenEDGE once again go hunting for the bonus seconds available out on course?

Any bonus seconds gained out on course during Stage 5 will make Simon Gerrans’ task of wrestling the Ochre Jersey off Cadel Evans’ shoulders just that little bit easier.

With time bonuses of ten, six and four available to the first three cyclists across the finishing line, theoretically Gerrans could get himself in to a position where he does not need to drop Evans before the finish.

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If the old saying that a great offence is a great defence holds true then perhaps Cadel Evans’ best strategy could be to put Simon Gerrans under pressure during the first half of Willunga Hill, where some of the highest gradients are.

Join us from 11.30am AEDT for what should be a thrilling Stage 5 of the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under.

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