ID :
42341
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 17:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42341
The shortlink copeid
Davis wins another Tour Down Under stage
Lance Armstrong is adamant he will not be the one to shatter his rivals when the Tour Down Under is decided on Old Willunga Hill.
The six-day Tour will reach its climax during stage five on Saturday, when the cyclists twice charge up the 3km climb at a gradient of 7.5 per cent.
Australian Allan Davis won stage four on Friday to lead compatriot Graeme Brown by four seconds overall, with two-time Tour winner Stuart O'Grady another 15 seconds behind.
Old Willunga Hill is far less strenuous than the mountain passes Armstrong will face later this year at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, but in Adelaide's January heat, Willunga is tough enough.
The most anticipated feature of the efforts to make this race harder is having the field go up Willunga Hill twice for the first time in the event's 11-year history.
The 148km fifth stage at Willunga, south of Adelaide, is the Tour's Queen stage and traditionally confirms the overall winner.
"I think I can be there ... let me rephrase that - I think I can be there, I know I won't be riding away (from the field)," Armstrong said.
"I'm sure they will open up the race tomorrow.
"O'Grady and all the usual suspects will have to try to drop Brown and Allan (on the climb).
"These guys are strong and again, it depends a little on the wind ... if it's a head wind like it was in training, it will be hard for anybody to ride away."
It was windy again in the 143km fourth stage from the Adelaide suburb of Burnside to Angaston in the Barossa, but nothing like the blustery conditions that wreaked so much havoc on Thursday.
Armstrong, who started his day with an anti-doping test, and Davis said they were happy to let an early three-man break stay away.
That would have meant a quiet day for the peloton.
But Robbie McEwen's Katusha team wanted to set him up for the win and they led the chase, after Australian Travis Meyer, Russian Vladimir Efimkin and Spaniard Andoni Lafuente built their lead to nearly 10 minutes.
It came down to a bunch sprint and Davis continued his strong form, beating Brown for the stage win and breaking their tie on elapsed time for the overall lead.
Armstrong finished safely in the peloton at 47th place and is 38th overall, 39 seconds behind Davis.
"It was easier than yesterday, but still, not an easy day ... my body was tired today and my legs were tired as well," Armstrong said.
Davis, who now has two stage wins, was measured about his chances of retaining the overall lead.
"Myself and my team Quick Step, we came here to win one stage and now we've had the (leader's) jersey for three days," he said.
"We'll give it a crack tomorrow ... I'm in the best position I would like to be in.
"I'm not one to talk it up or anything, we're in a good spot and we'll give it 110 per cent."
The six-day Tour will reach its climax during stage five on Saturday, when the cyclists twice charge up the 3km climb at a gradient of 7.5 per cent.
Australian Allan Davis won stage four on Friday to lead compatriot Graeme Brown by four seconds overall, with two-time Tour winner Stuart O'Grady another 15 seconds behind.
Old Willunga Hill is far less strenuous than the mountain passes Armstrong will face later this year at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, but in Adelaide's January heat, Willunga is tough enough.
The most anticipated feature of the efforts to make this race harder is having the field go up Willunga Hill twice for the first time in the event's 11-year history.
The 148km fifth stage at Willunga, south of Adelaide, is the Tour's Queen stage and traditionally confirms the overall winner.
"I think I can be there ... let me rephrase that - I think I can be there, I know I won't be riding away (from the field)," Armstrong said.
"I'm sure they will open up the race tomorrow.
"O'Grady and all the usual suspects will have to try to drop Brown and Allan (on the climb).
"These guys are strong and again, it depends a little on the wind ... if it's a head wind like it was in training, it will be hard for anybody to ride away."
It was windy again in the 143km fourth stage from the Adelaide suburb of Burnside to Angaston in the Barossa, but nothing like the blustery conditions that wreaked so much havoc on Thursday.
Armstrong, who started his day with an anti-doping test, and Davis said they were happy to let an early three-man break stay away.
That would have meant a quiet day for the peloton.
But Robbie McEwen's Katusha team wanted to set him up for the win and they led the chase, after Australian Travis Meyer, Russian Vladimir Efimkin and Spaniard Andoni Lafuente built their lead to nearly 10 minutes.
It came down to a bunch sprint and Davis continued his strong form, beating Brown for the stage win and breaking their tie on elapsed time for the overall lead.
Armstrong finished safely in the peloton at 47th place and is 38th overall, 39 seconds behind Davis.
"It was easier than yesterday, but still, not an easy day ... my body was tired today and my legs were tired as well," Armstrong said.
Davis, who now has two stage wins, was measured about his chances of retaining the overall lead.
"Myself and my team Quick Step, we came here to win one stage and now we've had the (leader's) jersey for three days," he said.
"We'll give it a crack tomorrow ... I'm in the best position I would like to be in.
"I'm not one to talk it up or anything, we're in a good spot and we'll give it 110 per cent."
