Emotional Haas takes overall win after five incredible days of racing

German sprint sensation Marcel Kittel (Skil-Shimano) claimed the 17th win of his season today in Melbourne, Australia crossing the line comfortably in a bunch sprint following a 61.5 kilometre criterium, the fifth and final stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers) was second, while Jens Debusschere (Omega Pharma – Lotto) was third across the line.

Despite Kittel increasing his 2011 tally for the second time this week, the day really belonged to Nathan Haas (Genesys) who was never threatened as overnight leader of the general classification, increasing his 10 second advantage over Jack Bobridge (Garmin – Cervelo) by a further seven seconds. The battle for third was intense with Saxo Bank SunGard's Jonas Jorgensen (26 seconds), MTN – Qhubeka's Janse Van Rensburg (27 seconds) and Omega Pharma Lotto's Jens Debusschere (29 seconds) all snaring valuable time bonuses on the final stage.

Kittel's team were consistently at the front of the bunch with several breakaway groups taking their chances over the 4.1 kilometre circuit, while the race finally came back together on the final of the 15 laps.

The sprinter explained he was well-suited to the course having experienced a lot of criterium-style racing as a junior in Germany.

"It was a really nice finish to my season, I really like Australia, and this has just been a great day to close things out," Kittel said following the finish.

Given his recent form, the 23-year-old said he was indeed saddened that Sunday's stage marked the end of his season.

"Believe it or not I'm really disappointed," he admitted. "I just love cycling. I love the travelling and it's really something special when you spend the whole year on the road with the boys. You have so much exciting things the whole time. I will miss it during the winter. For sure I won't be lazy and I will prepare for next year. The winter time is not too long. In January or February we race again."

Canberra-based Haas finished safely in the bunch after teammate Steele Von Hoff went away in one of the day's early breaks. The 22-year-old paid tribute to the work of the orange train, which also secured the team classification while the current National Road Series leader also took out the sprint and young rider classification.

"Our team stepped up again today and as I've said all year, this team is just unbelievable," Haas said. "We've not lost a race in Australia this year and now to win the Herald Sun Tour, we would never have thought this. We were going to be happy with one placing in a stage."

Despite the pressure on his rookie shoulder, Haas explained that the hours between being awarded with the yellow jersey and heading to the inner-city suburb of Carlton for today's start had been a whirlwind.

"To be honest I haven't really had time to think about emotions going into this," he explained. "I just tried to stay as cool as possible and I actually surprised myself when I was on the line at the start, I was like oh, well you're sitting here and you're about to finish this crit, just roll through."

While Bobridge was a mathematical chance of overtaking the lead of his compatriot, he was never a threat.

"To be honest ... I just went in to defend second today," the current Australian road champion admitted. "It was going to be nearly impossible to take 10 seconds out of him today. I would have had to win both primes and finish in front of him, or place at the finish - and he's just as quick as I am, if not quicker.

"I've got to be happy with second ... I threw everything at him this week, but at the end of the day he was too good, the best man won."

One man under no pressure today was KOM classification leader, Cam Peterson (V Australia) with no points on offer in the crit. Just last week at the Tour of Tasmania, he had pushed Haas all the way before the Genesys rider finally took control of the overall on the eighth of 10 stages.

"Last week was really tough," Peterson spoke of his Tasmanian experience. "Nathan Haas come in and beat me in the end, and then winning this, it doesn't bother me that he beat me this week. I had two sick days this week and then came good yesterday and suffered through today."

Full results

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Stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano1:28:19
2Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Professional CyclingRow 3 - Cell 2
5Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Alexander Serov (Rus) Russian National TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGardRow 7 - Cell 2
9Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin-CerveloRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jacob Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 9 - Cell 2
11Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 10 - Cell 2
12Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 11 - Cell 2
13Joseph Lewis (Aus) Australian National TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Michael Northey (NZl) Pure Black RacingRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Den) Saxo Bank-SunGardRow 14 - Cell 2
16Luke Roberts (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGardRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) V AustraliaRow 16 - Cell 2
18Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Cameron Wurf (Aus) Australian National TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Tim Gudsell (NZl) Pure Black RacingRow 19 - Cell 2
21Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Katusha Team0:00:07
22Shem Rodger (NZl) Pure Black RacingRow 21 - Cell 2
23Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Patrick Lane (Aus) Jayco - AISRow 23 - Cell 2
25Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional CyclingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Hilton Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 25 - Cell 2
27Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional CyclingRow 26 - Cell 2
28Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Skil - ShimanoRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin-CerveloRow 28 - Cell 2
30Rhys Pollock (Aus) Drapac Professional CyclingRow 29 - Cell 2
31Arran Brown (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 30 - Cell 2
32Darren Rolfe (Aus) V AustraliaRow 31 - Cell 2
33Dennis Van Niekerk (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 32 - Cell 2
34Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional CyclingRow 34 - Cell 2
36Sho Hatsuyama (Jpn) Utsunomiya Blitzen0:00:11
37Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 36 - Cell 2
38Nic Hamilton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b KendaRow 37 - Cell 2
39John Anderson (Aus) Australian National TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 39 - Cell 2
41Kenneth Hanson (USA) Jelly Belly p/b KendaRow 40 - Cell 2
42Peter Herzig (Aus) Budget ForkliftsRow 41 - Cell 2
43Maarten Neyens (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Matthew Llyod (Aus) Australian National TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Charles Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b KendaRow 44 - Cell 2
46Michael Cupitt (Aus) Budget ForkliftsRow 45 - Cell 2
47Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) V AustraliaRow 46 - Cell 2
48Patrick Shaw (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:00:17
49Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:19
50Benjamin Hill (Aus) Australian National TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-CerveloRow 50 - Cell 2
52Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Budget ForkliftsRow 51 - Cell 2
53Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGard0:00:25
54Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:36
55Jonathon Clarke (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:00:45
56Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:00:54
57Bradley Potigieter (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:57
58Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 57 - Cell 2
59Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil - Shimano0:01:16
60Cameron Peterson (Aus) V AustraliaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Yoshimitsu Tsuji (Jpn) Utsunomiya Blitzen0:01:20
62Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Australian National Team0:01:44
63Brett Lancaster (Aus) Garmin-CerveloRow 62 - Cell 2
64Travis Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:01:59
65Adrian Hegyvary (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:02:02
66William Dugan (USA) Team Type 1 - Sanofi0:02:52
67Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - Shimano0:03:02
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Sprint 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka6pts
2Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Den) Saxo Bank-SunGard2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka6pts
2Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Den) Saxo Bank-SunGard4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Arrival
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano10pts
2Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka2Row 4 - Cell 3
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Genesys Wealth Advisers4:24:57
2Saxo Bank SungardRow 1 - Cell 2
3Pureblack Racing0:00:07
4Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:11
5Australia National TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Katusha Team0:00:14
7Drapac CyclingRow 6 - Cell 2
8MTN QhubekaRow 7 - Cell 2
9V Australia0:00:18
10Team Garmin-Cervelo0:00:26
11Jelly Belly Cycling Team0:00:33
12Team Budget Forklifts0:00:41
13United Health Care Pro Cycling0:00:52
14Skil Shimano0:01:01
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Final General Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers16:39:39
2Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:00:17
3Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Den) Saxo Bank-SunGard0:00:26
4Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:27
5Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:29
6Rhys Pollock (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:01:21
7Joseph Lewis (Aus) Australian National Team0:03:29
8Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) V Australia0:03:56
9Tim Gudsell (NZl) Pure Black Racing0:03:59
10Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:05:12
11Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Katusha Team0:10:37
12Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:10:41
13Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Skil - Shimano0:10:44
14Alexander Serov (Rus) Russian National Team0:10:47
15Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:10:50
16Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:10:54
17Dennis Van Niekerk (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:10:57
18Darren Rolfe (Aus) V AustraliaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Luke Roberts (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGard0:10:58
20Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:11:00
21Cameron Wurf (Aus) Australian National Team0:11:15
22Michael Cupitt (Aus) Budget Forklifts0:11:18
23Patrick Lane (Aus) Jayco - AIS0:11:28
24Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGard0:11:29
25Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:11:32
26Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:11:38
27Matthew Llyod (Aus) Australian National Team0:11:45
28Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:11:54
29Jonathon Clarke (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:12:11
30Maarten Neyens (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:12:36
31Shem Rodger (NZl) Pure Black Racing0:12:37
32David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGard0:12:43
33Sho Hatsuyama (Jpn) Utsunomiya Blitzen0:13:01
34Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Australian National Team0:13:03
35Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:13:04
36William Dugan (USA) Team Type 1 - Sanofi0:14:27
37Patrick Shaw (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:14:33
38Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:14:34
39Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:15:26
40Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:16:08
41Cameron Peterson (Aus) V Australia0:16:43
42John Anderson (Aus) Australian National Team0:17:21
43Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:17:22
44Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha Team0:20:10
45Michael Northey (NZl) Pure Black RacingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Nic Hamilton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda0:20:40
47Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) V Australia0:20:41
48Jacob Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 47 - Cell 2
49Hilton Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:20:48
50Arran Brown (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Peter Herzig (Aus) Budget Forklifts0:20:52
52Benjamin Hill (Aus) Australian National Team0:21:00
53Kenneth Hanson (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda0:21:09
54Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:21:15
55Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:21:25
56Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Katusha Team0:21:32
57Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Budget Forklifts0:21:51
58Charles Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda0:22:01
59Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:22:02
60Bradley Potigieter (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:22:03
61Brett Lancaster (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:22:47
62Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha Team0:22:49
63Yoshimitsu Tsuji (Jpn) Utsunomiya Blitzen0:23:06
64Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - Shimano0:24:33
65Adrian Hegyvary (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:25:00
66Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil - Shimano0:25:11
67Travis Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:27:29
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Sprint Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers26pts
2Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka24Row 1 - Cell 3
3Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano20Row 2 - Cell 3
4Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Den) Saxo Bank-SunGard16Row 3 - Cell 3
5Rhys Pollock (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling14Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo14Row 5 - Cell 3
7Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto14Row 6 - Cell 3
8Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers14Row 7 - Cell 3
9Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling14Row 8 - Cell 3
10Patrick Shaw (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers8Row 9 - Cell 3
11Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank-SunGard8Row 10 - Cell 3
12Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers8Row 11 - Cell 3
13Tim Gudsell (NZl) Pure Black Racing6Row 12 - Cell 3
14Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling6Row 13 - Cell 3
15Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Katusha Team4Row 14 - Cell 3
16Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Australian National Team4Row 15 - Cell 3
17Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka4Row 16 - Cell 3
18John Anderson (Aus) Australian National Team4Row 17 - Cell 3
19Nic Hamilton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda4Row 18 - Cell 3
20Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto4Row 19 - Cell 3
21Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Budget Forklifts4Row 20 - Cell 3
22Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling2Row 21 - Cell 3
23Cameron Peterson (Aus) V Australia2Row 22 - Cell 3
24Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) V Australia2Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jacob Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling2Row 24 - Cell 3
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Young rider classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers16:39:39
2Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:00:17
3Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:27
4Jens Debusschere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:29
5Joseph Lewis (Aus) Australian National Team0:03:29
6Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:10:54
7Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:11:00
8Patrick Lane (Aus) Jayco - AIS0:11:28
9Shem Rodger (NZl) Pure Black Racing0:12:37
10Sho Hatsuyama (Jpn) Utsunomiya Blitzen0:13:01
11Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:13:04
12Benjamin Hill (Aus) Australian National Team0:21:00
13Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling0:21:25
14Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:22:02
15Bradley Potigieter (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:22:03
16Travis Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo0:27:29
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Team classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Genesys Wealth Advisers50:19:20
2Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:59
3Saxo Bank Sungard0:02:10
4Drapac Cycling0:02:38
5MTN Qhubeka0:02:45
6Australia National Team0:05:22
7Team Garmin-Cervelo0:05:34
8V Australia0:07:34
9Pureblack Racing0:07:45
10Katusha Team0:15:06
11Skil Shimano0:15:31
12Team Budget Forklifts0:23:56
13United Health Care Pro Cycling0:28:33
14Jelly Belly Cycling Team0:40:56

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As a sports journalist and producer since 1997, Jane has covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games, rugby league, motorsport, cricket, surfing, triathlon, rugby union, and golf for print, radio, television and online. However her enduring passion has been cycling.

 

Jane is a former Australian Editor of Cyclingnews from 2011 to 2013 and continues to freelance within the cycling industry.


 

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