Tour Down Under 2008 – Stage 5 – ‘Andre the Giant’ stomps on Australia Day hopes for local win

January 26, 2008 in News Report
Tags: 2008, Adam Hansen, Allan Davis, Andre Reipel, David Moncoutie, Mark Renshaw, McLaren Vale, Philippe Gilbert, Stage 5, Tour Down Under

Source: TDU Website

Germany’s Andre Griepel stomped on hopes of a local win to celebrate Australia Day when he claimed his third stage victory to take over the lead in the Tour Down Under.

The Team High Road cyclist sprinted home in a time of 3hr26min46sec edging out Australian Allan Davis (Australia-UniSA) and Spaniard Jose Benitez (Saunier Duval) after a 147 kilometre stage through the McLaren Vale wine growing region on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. His win has moved him to the top of the classification with a seven second buffer over Davis in second place. Spain’s Jose Rojas (Caisse d’Epargne) is sitting in third overall, 20 seconds off the race lead.

Tour Down Under 2008 – Stage 5 results

January 26, 2008 in News Report
Tags: 2008, AG2R-La Mondiale, Aitor Galdos Alonso, Andre Reipel, Astana, Carlo Westphal, David Moncoutie, Euskadi, Euskaltel, Gerolsteiner, Greg Henderson, Julien Mazet, Luis Leon Sanchez, Renaud Dion, Saunier Duval, Team High Road, Tour Down Under, Wilunga Hill

Source: TDU Website

After several attacks from the gun, after 20km we have a lead group of five that formed including Greg Henderson (NZl) of Team High Road, Carlo Westphal (Ger) of Gerolsteiner and Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) of Euskaltel – Euskadi, along with Julien Mazet (Fra) of Astana and Renaud Dion (Fra) from Ag2R-La Mondiale. At the 114km point, they were caught after spending over 90km off the front, even though their lead was over 4 minutes at one stage. The peloton cam back together for the climb of Willunga Hill and as expected, the fireworks started.