Local hero Simon Gerrans celebrated Australia’s national day in style with a thrilling win in the fifth stage of the Tour Down Under yesterday.
Gerrans flashed home to edge out Dutchman Tom-Jelte Slagter, who seized the overall lead from Welshman Geraint Thomas with another superb ride.
Gerrans, last year’s champion from Australian team Orica GreenEDGE, sent the huge crowd at the finish line on top of Old Willunga Hill into raptures as he passed Slagter with 200m to go and held on to win his first stage of the week.
Slagter’s second place was enough to see the Blanco Pro Cycling rider take the ochre leader’s jersey from Thomas, who was well in contention until he ran out of steam 600m from the finish line.
Thomas slipped back to 17th place, 28 seconds behind the Dutchman, and now lies in fifth place in the general classification, well out of contention for overall honors with only today’s 90km stage on the Adelaide street circuit remaining.
Slagter, 23, had celebrated his first victory as a professional when he won Wednesday’s second stage to Stirling.
He is now almost certain to be crowned overall winner when the race finishes today, giving Blanco, formerly known as Rabobank, a win in their first race as a new team.
“This whole week has been amazing for all the team — the first win for me and today I can hang this [ochre] jersey around my shoulders, it’s amazing,” he said.
Slagter said he hoped the success would help attract a new sponsor, following Rabobank’s decision to withdraw funding in the wake of doping scandals.
“For everyone it’s the first race so to go home with the stage win and hopefully the general, it’s the best start you can have,” he said.
“This is the best way to show to the Dutch people and the world how nice cycling can be and what we can do,” Slagter said. “I’m proud of the team and I hope we can find a new sponsor.”
Yesterday’s 151.5km stage from McLaren Vale to the top of Old Willunga Hill saw the riders complete three circuits around Aldinga Beach before two climbs up the infamous Category One hill.
A group of seven broke away on the first of the three beach circuits and at one stage had opened a gap of over four minutes.
However, the peloton picked up the pace and gathered them in right at the start of the first climb up Old Willunga.
Movistar’s Eros Capecchi and Jose Herrada Lopez then attacked on the hill along with AG2R La Mondiale’s Guillaume Bonnafond, and they were soon joined by Jurgen Roelandts from Lotto Belisol.
The four riders crossed the top of the hill 300m ahead of the peloton and opened a slight lead on the last circuit before the final climb.
However, the peloton closed again and the race was back together at the bottom of the hill, when the final attacks began.
Swiss rider Steve Morabito (BMC Racing), Portugal’s Tiago Machado (RadioShack Leopard) and German Bert Grabsch (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) opened a small break, before Machado tried to go on his own.
With 800m to go Gerrans flew from the front of the peloton and passed Machado, only for Slagter to go past them both, leaving a spent Thomas in his wake.
However, Gerrans stayed on Slagter’s wheel and delighted the fans when he overtook the young Dutchman.
“I’ve been really struggling with my asthma and today was the first day that my chest was clear,” Gerrans said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely