Stannard bests break, takes first professional victory

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Ian Stannard of Team Sky took his first victory as a professional today, winning the sprint from a five-man break in the fifth stage of the Tour of Austria. Gatis Smukulis (HTC-Highroad) and Stefan Denifl (Leopard Trek) took second and third respectively.

The field finished only 49 seconds behind the five-man escape, with Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) easily holding on to his overall lead.

"It was fantastic," said Stannard, 24. "Getting a win out of a break group is a dream. I also profited from my track experience in the closing sprint."

Thursday's stage, 157.2km from St. Johann/Alpendorf to Schladming, provided a much flatter parcours than previous days with only three smaller ranked-climbs along its rolling profile. Before the first climb of the day, the category four Pass Lueg at km 27, five riders attacked in what would be the day's winning move. Ian Stannard (Sky) was the first to go, and he was joined by Stefan Denifl (Leopard Trek), Gatis Smukulis (HTC-Highroad), Yannick Eijssen (BMC), and Gregory Rast (RadioShack).

The quintet built up a lead of approximately three minutes and it proved to be enough. Geox-TMC led the chase, with Cofidis lending a hand in the finale, but the five escapees came to the finish still holding a 49-second advantage. Stannard gave his companions no chance in the closing sprint.