Santos Tour Down Under - Stage 5: McLaren Vale - Willunga, 131km



steve

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Santos Tour Down Under - Stage 5: McLaren Vale - Willunga, 131km Always the best stage our Down Under see every year, recent editions of the race have sent the riders over Old Willunga Hill twice. The crowds and atmosphere on Old Willunga Hill are much like those experienced on the roads of France during the Tour de France.


Date: Saturday 22 January 2011 Start and Finish: McLaren Vale to Willunga Start Time: 11am McLaren Vale Skoda King of the Mountain: Willunga Hill Jayco Sprint Locations: The Esplanade, Aldinga Beach (Snapper Point) Feed Station: Main Road Willunga at Kell Street Finish Time: 2.19pm ETA Race Distance: 131km
Stage 5 Profile
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Stage 5 2010

General Classification before stage 5
1 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 12:54:30 2 Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:10 3 Matthew Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 0:00:12 4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Radio Shack 0:00:15 5 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:16 6 Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:18 7 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling 8 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:26 9 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:27 10 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana 0:00:28 11 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISD 12 Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 13 Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Procycling 14 Luke Roberts (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 15 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 16 Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek 17 Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 18 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 19 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 20 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Movistar Team 21 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team 22 Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 23 Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 24 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 25 Ben Hermans (Bel) Team Radio Shack
 
Stage 5 Results 1 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar Team 3:06:10 2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team 3 Matthew Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team 5 Luke Roberts (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 6 Robbie Hunter (RSA) Team Radio Shack 7 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 8 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 9 Ben Hermans (Bel) Team Radio Shack 10 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling 11 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 12 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana 13 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 14 Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 15 Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 16 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:09 17 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:11 18 Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 19 Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 20 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 21 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISD 22 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Movistar Team 23 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Movistar Team 24 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team 25 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 26 Luke Durbridge (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 27 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 28 Danny Pate (USA) HTC-Highroad 29 Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 30 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 31 Angel Madrazo (Spa) Movistar Team 32 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) Lampre - ISD 33 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step Cycling Team 34 Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 35 Julien Vermote (Bel) Quick Step Cycling Team 36 Ivan Velasco (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 37 Timothy Roe (Aus) BMC Racing Team 38 Hayden Roulston (NZl) HTC-Highroad 0:00:18 39 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team 0:00:23 40 Travis Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 41 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 42 Jack Bobridge (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:26 43 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:00:27 44 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:00:30 45 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:00:43 46 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:45 47 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:02 48 Simon Clarke (Aus) Astana 0:01:12 49 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:29 50 Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto 51 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Leopard Trek 0:01:48 52 Markel Irizar (Spa) Team Radio Shack 53 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 54 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 55 Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 56 Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek 57 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 58 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha Team 59 Vicente Reynes (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 60 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard Trek 61 Juan Horrach (Spa) Katusha Team 62 Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 63 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Radio Shack 64 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Katusha Team 65 Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre - ISD 66 Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 67 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 68 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana 69 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 70 Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 71 Ruben Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 72 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 73 Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek 74 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling 75 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radio Shack 76 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 77 Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team 78 David Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team 79 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 80 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 81 Gregory Rast (Swi) Team Radio Shack 0:03:11 82 Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Lampre - ISD 0:04:23 83 Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha Team 84 Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) Astana 85 Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 86 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 87 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:06:15 88 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 89 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard 90 Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team 91 Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 92 David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 93 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 94 Mitchell Docker (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 95 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quick Step Cycling Team 96 Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Procycling 0:08:46 97 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard 98 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad 99 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 100 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 101 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 103 Bert Grabsch (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:10:36 104 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-Highroad 105 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 106 Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana 107 William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek 108 Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale 109 Daniel Sesma (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 110 Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard Trek 111 Manuel Cardoso (Por) Team Radio Shack 112 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team 113 John Murphy (USA) BMC Racing Team 114 Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 115 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 116 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 117 Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 118 Michael Hepburn (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 119 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team 120 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISD 121 Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard Trek 0:12:13 122 Jos van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 123 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 124 Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 125 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 126 Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 127 Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 128 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:14:06 129 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 130 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo

General Classification Stage 5 1 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 16:00:40 2 Matthew Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 0:00:08 3 Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:10 4 Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:12 5 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:17 6 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:18 7 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:26 8 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:27 9 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana 0:00:28 10 Luke Roberts (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 11 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 12 Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 14 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team 15 Ben Hermans (Bel) Team Radio Shack 16 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:00:39 17 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Movistar Team 18 Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 19 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 20 Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:43 21 Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:46 22 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 23 Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 24 Ivan Velasco (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 25 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step Cycling Team 26 Hayden Roulston (NZl) HTC-Highroad 0:00:53 27 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:01:05 28 Jack Bobridge (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:07 29 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:01:11 30 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:20 31 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:37 32 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:01:40 33 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:01:46 34 Angel Madrazo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:59 35 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Radio Shack 0:02:03 36 Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek 0:02:11 37 Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:02:16 38 Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 39 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Katusha Team 40 Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:21 41 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:02:23 42 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Leopard Trek 43 David Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team 44 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling 45 Juan Horrach (Spa) Katusha Team 0:02:28 46 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 0:02:29 47 Ruben Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 48 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 49 Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team 50 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana 51 Julien Vermote (Bel) Quick Step Cycling Team 0:02:38 52 Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:07 53 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) Lampre - ISD 0:03:20 54 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 55 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:34 56 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:03:35 57 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:41 58 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:49 59 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team 0:04:19 60 Robbie Hunter (RSA) Team Radio Shack 0:04:27 61 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:04:39 62 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 0:04:58 63 Luke Durbridge (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 0:05:12 64 Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek 0:05:14 65 Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:05:32 66 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radio Shack 0:05:44 67 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard Trek 0:06:03 68 Simon Clarke (Aus) Astana 0:06:07 69 Travis Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:06:14 70 Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:06:47 71 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:06:56 72 Timothy Roe (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:07:00 73 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 0:07:44 74 David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:07:49 75 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quick Step Cycling Team 0:07:53 76 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:08:01 77 Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:08:02 78 Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) Astana 79 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:08:14 80 Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:08:21 81 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:08:28 82 Mitchell Docker (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 0:08:30 83 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 0:08:55 84 Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:09:10 85 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha Team 86 Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Procycling 0:09:14 87 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:09:44 88 Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Lampre - ISD 0:10:06 89 Danny Pate (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:10:10 90 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:10:55 91 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:11:05 92 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 0:11:06 93 Vicente Reynes (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 94 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:11:07 95 Manuel Cardoso (Por) Team Radio Shack 0:11:35 96 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:11:36 97 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 0:11:50 98 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:12:48 99 Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:12:54 100 Markel Irizar (Spa) Team Radio Shack 0:13:30 101 Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:13:56 102 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team 0:14:15 103 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:14:53 104 Gregory Rast (Swi) Team Radio Shack 105 William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek 0:15:52 106 Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana 0:16:08 107 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:16:42 108 Jos van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:17:00 109 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:17:29 110 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:17:36 111 Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale 0:17:43 112 Michael Hepburn (Aus) UNI SA - Australia 0:18:17 113 Daniel Sesma (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:18:57 114 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad 0:19:40 115 Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard Trek 0:21:02 116 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:21:13 117 Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:21:45 118 Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard Trek 0:22:26 119 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:22:34 120 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:22:44 121 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team 0:23:07 122 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:23:11 123 Bert Grabsch (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:23:15 124 Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 0:23:22 125 John Murphy (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:24:28 126 Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:25:32 127 Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:25:38 128 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-Highroad 0:25:50 129 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:26:56 130 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 0:31:26
 
Stage 5 News
Meyer defends lead at Tour Down Under, Ventoso wins stage 5 Australia's Cameron Meyer saw his lead of the Tour Down Under narrow to only eight seconds as Spain's Francisco Ventoso dominated a bunch sprint to win the race's fifth stage. Meyer took a 12-sec lead over his main challenger, Matthew Goss, into the 131.8 km stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga, which took in two ascents of the usually decisive Willunga Hill. Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-q0N7g7eKFrl304qYbXpXOHOBcQ?docId=CNG.0a687712ffe53e5e40c68adf7e648abe.8b1 Last stage down to wire ADELAIDE sensation Jack Bobridge was beating himself up for his late-stage crash. But teammate and ochre jersey-holder Cameron Meyer hailed him for his courage in keeping an eight-second Tour Down Under lead for the Garmin-Cervelo camp. Bobridge was part of a three-man breakaway late in yesterday's pivotal Willunga stage, joined by fellow Aussie Richie Porte and German Ben Hermans. The trio led the field over the second ascent of Willunga Hill but was reined in on the run to the finish line. With 4km to ride, Bobridge made a sharp left-hand turn - one of the last bends of the 125km southern circuit - and slid, crashing to the bitumen. Link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/last-stage-down-to-wire/story-fn6bn647-1225992922715 Ventoso wins stage five Down Under Movistar rider Ventoso caught the top sprinters snoozing as he launched his attack far from the finish line of the 130km stage to beat Australians Michael Matthews and Matthew Goss. Sprinter Goss, second overall and eight seconds adrift of Garmin-Cervelo's Meyer, will be the favourite to ****** the overall win in Sunday's sixth and final stage which features two intermediate sprints with six-second bonuses. Link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22012011/58/ventoso-wins-stage-five-under.html Bobridge spill puts pressure on Meyer MUCH more accustomed to accolades and triumph, Jack Bobridge, experiencing the antithesis of those things, sat shaking his head and tending to his wounds. Perfectly positioned to be a key player in the tense final kilometres of yesterday's penultimate stage to Willunga, Australia's recently crowned national road race king was riding the perfect race for his teammate, Cameron Meyer who won Australia's time-trial title earlier this month and might also have been in the box seat to win his first Tour Down Under had it not been for Bobridge's untimely spill. Link: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/bobridge-spill-puts-pressure-on-meyer-20110122-1a0r4.html It's an edgy game with a few contenders THE Tour Down Under has come down to a race of three cyclists who have officially distinguished themselves from 130 others - some, like Robbie McEwen, Allan Davis and defending champion Andre Greipel, remained in contention until yesterday, while the likes of Mark Cavendish and Lance Armstrong were never really in the hunt despite their superstar status. Fittingly, the major pieces in what will be a furious game of chess today in downtown Adelaide are three of Australia's brightest young things. Link: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/its-an-edgy-game-with-a-few-contenders-20110122-1a0r1.html Still up in the air It is not exactly mission impossible, but Matthew Goss knows he has a battle on his hands if he is to walk away from Adelaide with the Tour Down Under's ochre jersey. Goss trails overall leader Cameron Meyer by eight seconds following Saturday's fifth stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga, having made up four seconds via a time bonus for finishing third. With 16 seconds in time bonuses on offer during Sunday's final stage on the street circuit in Adelaide, Goss knows he is in with a chance of toppling Meyer, who is not a noted sprinter. Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/23/3119073.htm?site=sport&section=more Goss focused on final push after frustrating few days TASMANIAN sprinter Matt Goss knows he is in the box seat to win the Tour Down Under in today's final stage. But after narrowing the lead of West Australian powerhouse Cameron Meyer in yesterday's traditionally decisive leg to Willunga, he was left ruing a lost opportunity to be closer to the top. In typically hot and windy conditions, Goss (HTC-Highroad) placed third in the 131-kilometre fifth stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga that included two ascents of Old Willunga Hill. In first place was Spaniard Francisco Ventoso (Movistar), while the ACT's Michael Matthews (Rabobank) was second. Link: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/goss-focused-on-final-push-after-frustrating-few-days-20110122-1a0iz.html Francisco Ventoso wins fifth stage of Tour Down Under after sprint finish Francisco Ventoso outsprinted Matt Goss and Michael Matthews to take victory in the penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. The Spaniard clinched the 131-kilometre trek from McLaren Vale to Willunga in a time of three hours, six minutes and 10 seconds. Race leader Cameron Meyer could only finish in 13th place, with second-placed Goss closing the gap on him to just eight seconds. Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1349547/Francisco-Ventoso-wins-fifth-stage-Tour-Down-Under-sprint-finish.html Meyer, Goss to duel for Down Under cycling crown HTC-Highroad's Matthew Goss has thrown down the gauntlet to fellow Australian Cameron Meyer as the pair prepare to duel for the Tour Down Under title on Sunday's sixth and final stage. Spaniard Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) claimed a deserved win on Saturday when he beat Aussie Michael Matthews (Rabobank) by a centimetre (half an inch) at the end of the 131.8 kilometre (82 mile) race from McLaren Vale to Willunga. However the real battle erupted only metres behind them with Goss finishing third to grab four bonus seconds to cut his deficit to eight and move up to second overall. Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5haINqIeFwL8owNjAPG7JTQsir3UA?docId=CNG.0a687712ffe53e5e40c68adf7e648abe.a21 Willunga victory for Ventoso Francisco Ventoso emerged victorious on the penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under and the race looks poised for a thrilling finale after Matt Goss's third-placed finish clawed vital seconds back at the top of the standings. The 131km trek from McLaren Vale to Willunga had long been billed as the queen stage of the tour and didn't disappoint with the fireworks beginning almost as soon as the riders had crossed the start line. Link: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_6690616,00.html Meyer retains lead with one stage left Two days after Movistar gained its first win in its current guise at Argentina's Tour de San Luis, Francisco Ventoso has grabbed another victory, this time in Australia at the Santos Tour Down Under. The Spaniard narrowly beat Michael Matthews (Rabobank) and Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) in a sprint along Willunga's Main Rd. Link: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/tour-down-under-5-meyer-retains-lead-with-one-stage-left-29020 Tour Down Over: Bobridge crashes THE thrills in yesterday's 131km stage of the Tour Down Under came 4km from the finish when Adelaide cyclist Jack Bobridge hit the bitumen with Spain's David Lopez. The South Aussie cycling sensation was part of a three-man breakaway late in yesterday's pivotal Willunga stage, with fellow Aussie Richie Porte and German Ben Hermans. The trio led the field over the second ascent of Willunga Hill but was reined in on the run to the finish line. With 4km to ride, Bobridge made a sharp left-hand turn - one of the last bends of the 125km southern circuit - and slid out, crashing to the bitumen with Spanish rider Lopez (Movistar). Link: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/tour-down-over-bobridge-hits-bitumen/story-fn6bqphm-1225992958409 Aussie Cameron Meyer retains leaders jersey on penultimate stage AUSTRALIAN Cameron Meyer will wear the ochre leaders jersey into the deciding race of the Santos Tour Down Under after Francisco Ventoso claimed victory in the fifth stage from Aussie pair Michael Mathews and Matt Goss. Meyer, whose team-mate Jack Bobridge crashed in the final kilometres of the 131km stage to Willunga, will take an eight second lead into the final stage, a 90km circuit race on the streets of Adelaide. But with 16 seconds up for grabs at intermittent time bonuses during the last day and for the overall win, Tasmanian Goss is still well within striking distance of reclaiming the ochre jersey on the final stage. Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/aussie-cameron-meyer-retains-leaders-jersey-on-penultimate-stage/story-e6frey6i-1225992854477 Movistar wins action-packed race MOVISTAR'S Francisco Ventoso crossed the stage five finish line first, but it was Jack Bobridge's spectacular fall earlier in the race that had people talking at the TDU today. About 5km from the finish, Bobridge (Garmin-Cervelo) was involved in a crash with another Movistar cyclist who failed to get back on his bike during the 131km race at Willunga. The Australian champion was able to finish and will start the final stage tomorrow, but was this afternoon sporting an arm bandage for his injuries. Link: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/tdu-stage-five-mclaren-vale-to-willunga/story-e6frecj3-1225992856828
 

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