THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Davis grabs another as Gerrans wraps up overall Down Under
Adelaide, Australia - Up-and-coming Australian cyclist Simon Gerrans was celebrating his second stage race win inside three months Sunday after winning the Tour Down Under, the last stage of which was won by Allan Davis.
Davis, who is set to be the Australian team leader for the Commonwealth Games road race in March, grabbed his second win of the five-stage race after pipping compatriot Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) at the finish line of the 90km downtown Adelaide circuit.
It meant McEwen, a huge favorite at the start of the tour, failed to improve on his race record tally of 11 stage wins.
Another early favorite, Thor Hushovd of Norway, also missed out after finishing fourth behind Simone Cadamuro of Milram. The big Crédit Agricole sprinter, who won the green points jersey at last year’s Tour de France, fell victim to the searing temperatures throughout the race.
At the completion of 676 kilometers of racing Gerrans finished the Tour in first place in a total race time for the journey of 16:36:54, seven seconds clear of 2005 race champion Spaniard Luis Sanchez of Liberty Seguros with McEwen rounding out the top three, at 14 seconds behind Gerrans.
Gerrans became the first rider in the eight-year history of the Tour Down Under to hold on to the ochre-colored race leader's jersey from start to finish. It was also the third time his Ag2R have won the race.
The 25-year-old won the first stage on Wednesday and dug deep to defend his advantage over Sanchez thanks to some great teamwork, and personal grit during the difficult fourth stage.
On Sunday it was all about avoiding race-losing accidents or punctures and keeping a close eye on Sanchez. Thankfully for Gerrans, his ever-present teammates pulled him through.
Gerrans, whose French registered AG2R-Prevoyance team has been newly promoted to the ProTour status, was overjoyed with his win which puts him on track for an impressive 2006 season after 2005 credits which included a third place on stage 17 in his debut Tour de France and his overall victory in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Victoria.
"I'm just absolutely rapt, I can't believe that I've had the lead from the first stage right through to today," said Gerrans after crossing the line safely in the main field on the final stage. "It's just an incredible feeling.
"My Ag2R teammates had an absolutely fantastic race. They've protected me since the first day on every stage and there's no way I could have done it without them," he said. "It's just a fantastic start to the season, not only for me but also for my team."
Sunday's stage was reduced from 20 to 18 laps and the temperatures dropped slightly to a still-sizzling 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
A breakaway of five riders formed before the halfway stage but their lead never topped a minute.
With four laps to go Italian Luca Paolini, Carlos Barredo and Matthew Hayman held a 35-second lead on the bunch, and with only two to ride they had been caught.
In the finale McEwen's Davitamon led the bunch towards the finish along with Crédit Agricole. After the final bend leading into the home straight the main contenders for the sprint jostled for position and it was every man for himself.
Cadamuro led the line in, with Davis sticking on McEwen's back wheel. The 25-year-old Liberty Seguros sprinter then moved outside of his fellow Aussie, narrowly missing a collision with the Italian before pipping McEwen at the finish.
"I've raced against Robbie and all the other top sprinters around the world and I've gradually progressed every year, so maybe things are starting to pay off," said Davis, one of only two riders to compete in every race here. He won his first stage only this week.
"I think I took a little bit of pressure off by getting that first stage and hopefully things will go on well from here."
Davis's teammate Carlos Barredo also won a stage of the race, leaving Liberty with three stages and second place overall.
Davis added: "Simon and the Ag2R were too good, we don't have any excuses. We tried our best and came away with three stages and second place, so it's not bad."
Results - Stage 5 - 2006 Tour Down Under
1. Allan Davis (Aus), Liberty Seguros 1:49:47(44.3kph)
2. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
3. Simone Cadamuro (Ita), Milram
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole
5. Steven Caethoven (Bel), Chocolade Jacques
6. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa), Liberty Seguros
7. Matthew Goss (Aus), South Australia.com-AIS
8. Simon Clarke (Aus), South Australia.com-AIS
9. Marco Righetto (Ita), Liquigas-Bianchi
10. Dennis Haueisen (Ger), Milram
FullResults
Final overall standings
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus), Ag2r Prevoyance 16:36:54
2. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa), Liberty Seguros, at 0:07
3. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:14
4. William Walker (Aus), United Water-Australia U/23, at 0:46
5. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA-Australia, at 1:48
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 2:42
7. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA-Australia, at 3:00
8. Simon Clarke (Aus), South Australia.com-AIS 3:19
9. Chris Jongewaard (Aus), UniSA-Australia
10. Glenn d'Hollander (Bel), Chocolade Jacques, at 3:31
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