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)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
At the line... Andre Greipel looks to have done it!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Here they come with 200m to go. A mass finish on the way. Who will get it? Who will lead out the front?
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
2kms left. Still packed up
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Attacks coming from EVERYWHERE now with 3km left. Euskaltel - Euskadi and UniSA Australia trying to make breaks, but everyone's back together
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
5km left to go. Rabobank making a move to the front of the peloton now. Still heavy crosswinds at the finish line
Kasey
Guest
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/
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Both Lampre-ISD & GreenEDGE leading from the front and setting the pace for the peloton with 9km to go
Kasey
Guest
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?
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
He is indeed Kasey. It started in 2010 and is a nice little tradition that's starting to build.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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.
Kasey
Guest
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!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
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.