TDU stage 6

The final stage of the 16th Tour Down Under was 18 laps of a 4.75km circuit around Adelaide. The wildlife here was a bit different from stage 5.

 

This guy had set up his tent and sign early in the morning. He was so excited, I didn't have the heart to tell him that Nibali was racing in Argentina.

 

The start line was maybe a kilometers from the riders' hotel so they rolled in together.

 

Jens Voigt and Lachlan Morton.

 

Kiwis Jack Bauer and George Bennett.

 

Cadel Evans and Jack Haig in the best young rider jersey.

 

It was a massive traffic jam as everyone waited to sign on and start their practice laps.

 

Rohan Dennis and Lachlan Morton waited at the start line.

 

Matt Goss, meanwhile, caught up with a friend in the VIP section…

 

…before giving a Drapac rider a noogie.

 

A bruised and battered Bernie Eisel.

 

Riders waited for the gun to signal the start of the final stage.

 

Julien Berard, Maxim Belkov, and Will Clarke established an early break away.

 

The peloton was happy to let the trio ride ahead, though many of the teams still stayed organized.

 

The Sky train on lap 3.

 

BMC, Sky, and Orica GreenEdge.

 

Andre Greipel and his massive sprinter thighs.

 

There was good people watching in the VIP stands. Below: Sir Chris Hoy, a decorated British track cyclist.

 

Not much had changed by lap 5.

 

The break away riders were working well together, even waiting when one had a flat tire, though they never got much more than 2:30 ahead.

 

The peloton on lap 10.

The breakaway way approached the feed zone.

 

Bernie Eisel peeked at the big screen on lap 12 to see what was happening in the race

 

Jens Voigt led the peloton on the 13th lap.

 

Simon Gerrans in the ochre jersey.

 

By lap 15, the peloton decided to catch the break away.

 

On lap 16 the tams began to jockey for position.

 

The pace had lifted significantly.

 

Approaching the finish line on the final lap, Lotto Belisol had done their job perfectly and set Andre Greipel up to claim the stage.

 

Stage winner: Andre Greipel.

 

Overall winner: Simon Gerrans.

 

Best rider from South Australia: Jack Bobridge.

 

Most aggressive rider: Will Clarke.

 

Best young rider: Jack Haig.

 

Sprint jersey: Simon Gerrans.

 

King of the Mountains: Adam Hansen.

 

Best team: Orica GreenEdge.

 

3rd place overall: Diego Ulissi.

 

2nd place overall: Cadel Evans.

 

The jersey winners doused the spectators with champagne.

 

Stage results

1st Andre Greipel (Germany, Lotto Belisol)

2nd Mark Renshaw (Australia, Omega Pharma Quick Step)

3rd Andrew Fenn (Great Britain, Omega Pharma Quick Step)

 

Today's 2 autographs: 7 Danilo Wyss and 183 Travis Meyer.