ID :
84552
Thu, 10/15/2009 - 08:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/84552
The shortlink copeid
Another stage win puts Sutton in yellow
(AAP) - Two stage wins in as many days have delivered Australia's Chris Sutton the yellow jersey in Victoria's Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
Sutton is seeking to join his father Gary, who won the event in 1984, as the first
father-son combination to win the tour.
His victory in Wednesday's 164km third stage from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay, came
after he was part of a big bunch that charged down a two-man breakaway just 100m
from the finish.
Sutton's Garmin Slipstream teammate Tom Peterson had been one of the two riders out
in front for most of the day, along with Jayco AIS's Leigh Howard.
Sutton's stage win gave him a one-second overall lead from fellow Australian
Jonathan Cantwell, of team Fly V.
Another Garmin Slipstream rider, Bradley Wiggins, was 35 seconds off the pace, in
third spot.
Sutton said it was Fly V who drove the chasing pack which mowed down the two
leaders, after they seemed set to battle for the stage win.
"I feel a bit sorry for both of them," he said.
"Leigh Howard is a great bike rider and Tom is going really strong at the moment. He
was upset he missed the move yesterday and I am sure he is a bit upset today as
well.
"But that is bike racing. We rode a team plan."
Peterson was clearly despondent post-race, despite his teammate's success and his
own acquisition of the polka dot jersey as leader in the King of the Mountains
category.
"I'm speechless. I would have loved to have won it today, but we went with the
team," Peterson said.
Sutton credited Wiggins with a major role in helping him into the lead.
"Wiggo is like a freight train. I can't describe how fast he goes ... we don't
really talk that much on the road. We just have a bit of a signal. Wiggo just taps
his hand on his rear and I hang on," Sutton said.
He said the team wanted himself, Wiggins and Canadian Svein Tuft, currently in
fifth, to end up sharing the podium, but acknowledged Cantwell remained a major
threat.
But Cantwell, who wore the yellow jersey into the stage, has retained the sprinters'
green jersey, ahead of Thursday's 120km fourth stage from Anglesea to Barwon Heads.
Sutton is seeking to join his father Gary, who won the event in 1984, as the first
father-son combination to win the tour.
His victory in Wednesday's 164km third stage from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay, came
after he was part of a big bunch that charged down a two-man breakaway just 100m
from the finish.
Sutton's Garmin Slipstream teammate Tom Peterson had been one of the two riders out
in front for most of the day, along with Jayco AIS's Leigh Howard.
Sutton's stage win gave him a one-second overall lead from fellow Australian
Jonathan Cantwell, of team Fly V.
Another Garmin Slipstream rider, Bradley Wiggins, was 35 seconds off the pace, in
third spot.
Sutton said it was Fly V who drove the chasing pack which mowed down the two
leaders, after they seemed set to battle for the stage win.
"I feel a bit sorry for both of them," he said.
"Leigh Howard is a great bike rider and Tom is going really strong at the moment. He
was upset he missed the move yesterday and I am sure he is a bit upset today as
well.
"But that is bike racing. We rode a team plan."
Peterson was clearly despondent post-race, despite his teammate's success and his
own acquisition of the polka dot jersey as leader in the King of the Mountains
category.
"I'm speechless. I would have loved to have won it today, but we went with the
team," Peterson said.
Sutton credited Wiggins with a major role in helping him into the lead.
"Wiggo is like a freight train. I can't describe how fast he goes ... we don't
really talk that much on the road. We just have a bit of a signal. Wiggo just taps
his hand on his rear and I hang on," Sutton said.
He said the team wanted himself, Wiggins and Canadian Svein Tuft, currently in
fifth, to end up sharing the podium, but acknowledged Cantwell remained a major
threat.
But Cantwell, who wore the yellow jersey into the stage, has retained the sprinters'
green jersey, ahead of Thursday's 120km fourth stage from Anglesea to Barwon Heads.
