Gerrans victorious on Australia Day at Old Willunga

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Simon Gerrans has given locals another reason to celebrate on Australia Day by capturing a fine victory at the top of Old Willunga Hill. Gerrans suffered health issues this week which hampered his chances of taking another Down Under title but the Orica GreenEdge team can rest easy tonight having reversed the disappointments of the week.

The team has had a number of near misses in Adelaide over the past seven days with the team's sprinter Matt Goss' two second-places at the People's Choice Classic and Stage 2 at Stirling. The late-race crash in yesterday's finale was just another setback for the team which started without Daryl Impey today. Gerrans' win puts some of that frustration behind with Australia Day toasts to no doubt continue this evening.

"To win here on Australia Day is a fantastic feeling," said Gerrans at the finish.

The team clearly had a plan today after team director Matt Wilson had reportedly signalled Gerrans was on the mend ahead of the 151.5km stage from McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill. Jens Mouris joined the seven-rider break that animated the day with the team moving to front coming into the final ascent of the day.

"A big thanks to my Orica GreenEdge teammates, they laid it on the line for me today so it was great to finish it off.

Gerrans held off a late charge to the line from the best young rider, Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco) to take Orica GreenEdge's first win ever at the Santos Tour Down Under.

"I never gave up until right to the line. Especially when the young Blanco guy jumped across to us and went straight past. I had to get straight on his wheel and try and come past in the final," said Gerrans.

"I guess we've had two finished up here and I was second last year and had a win this year. It's a nice way to round out the week."

Slagter's second-place on the stage earned him the race lead, the Jayco Sprint jersey while extending his lead in the young rider classification.

"With 600 metres to go, I saw Simon Gerrans going fast with a Movistar rider [Javier Moreno]," explained Slagter.

"I could have just gone for third place as long as I had a gap over Geraint Thomas but I wasn’t sure about the seconds. I wanted to win the stage and make a gap on GC. I preferred to have my adversaries as far behind as possible. I thought it would have been harder to beat Thomas but the level of the competition was very good.

"For the stage win, Gerrans was fast but it doesn’t matter really. It’s an incredible feeling! I never won a pro race before and I’ve a stage here this week, second today with the jersey and I have enough of a lead to believe that I can my win the first WorldTour race of the year tomorrow. It comes from such a great team work. I’m really proud to show this team to the world. It looks like the real beginning of my career even though the season is long."

The day's results have seen a reshuffling of the general classification with previous leader Thomas now sitting in fifth. Slagter has a 13-second lead over second-place Javier Moreno (Movistar) heading into tomorrow's circuit race around Adelaide but was confident in his team's ability to see him through the final day.

"I can only say that I'm really, really happy that I could do it today," said an excited Slagter shortly after the finish. "It's a big thanks to the whole team.

"I thought so [that I would have the legs]. The whole stage I felt good, actually the whole week is going well so I had the confidence and it's great to be again on the podium. With the leader's jersey, it's incredible.

"The team showed today they can help me from start to finish so I'm full of confidence."

How it happened

Today's stage was set to decide the 2013 winner of the Santos Tour Down Under and with everything to ride for, it was an aggressive start to the 151.5km stage from McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill.

It took a little over 20km before the day's escape was finally formed. The Sky team of race leader Geraint Thomas called the bunch to a halt for a nature break and that was it. Seven riders were away.

The group contained Jens Mouris (Orica Greendge), Calvin Waton (UniSA - Australia), Thomas de Gendt, Tomas Marczynski (Vacansoleil-DCM), Klaas Lodewyck (BMC), Manuele Boaro (Garmin Sharp) and Koen de Kort (Argos-Shimano). The bunch allowed the group a maximum lead of approximately 3:30 before beginning the slow catch.

The first intermediate sprint, and precious bonification seconds were taken by the breakaway but it seemed like the bunch was interested in catching them before the second and final sprint.

The bunch sprang to life as a number of teams including RadioShack and Blanco quickly increased the tempo. The breakaway's advantage dropped significantly as the peloton hurled along at 55km/h but they soon realised the catch would not occur before the 103.4km point - the location for the day's final intermediate sprint.

The pace eased off but the break seemed destined to be caught at the base of Old Willunga. Sensing their day was over de Gendt was the first to try and break clear of his escapee companions. He eventually gave in as his teammate Marczynski pushed ahead.

Once caught Sky appeared in control. They had five riders at the front and seemed capable of keeping the bunch under wraps. Movistar were clearly uninterested in cruising up the climb and promptly launched two riders up the road. A four-man group broke clear and gained a 20-second gap over the top of the KOM point.

Eros Capecchi, Jose Herrada (Movistar), Guillaume Bonnafond (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) enjoyed a slim lead but the pace was unrelenting from behind.

Orica GreenEdge came to the front to whip up the pace coming toward the base of the final ascent of Old Willunga and suggested Gerrans' health had improved.

Last year's third-place rider Tiago Machado (RadioShack Leopard) tried a similar move to last year and went early. His attack seemed desperate and while he forged ahead, Sky were still in control jest seconds behind.

The attacks were constant and nearing the final kilometre as Javier Moreno bridged to the Machado group. The bunch was still close behind but Moreno's presence near the front was ominous. He continued to up the ante until defending Tour Down Under champion came across. That again seemed like a winning move until the best young rider Slagter blasted out of the bunch.

Slagter went straight passed the leading duo and Gerrans immediately jumped on the wheel on the Blanco rider. Gerrans waited for the final bend to make his move and did just enough to hold off the Dutchman to take his first stage win of the week.

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