The US-based cycling team HTC-Columbia celebrated another victory in Australia as Matt Goss won Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under.
The Australian beat defending champion Andre Greipel (Omega Phama-Lotto) and Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) in a sprint finish after a 138km (86-mile) bike race from Mawson Lakes to Angaston.
On Sunday, Goss won the Cancer Helpline Classic in Adelaide, a preview for cyclists in the Tour Down Under. The race continues through Sunday, Australia time.
Cavendish
Where is HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish in all of this? The man known as the world's most explosive sprinter finished in the same group as Goss, although listed in 65th place.
As the sprint developed, teammate Mark Renshaw led out Goss and Cavendish. The plan was for either Goss or Cavendish to take it. Goss said he kept battling Greipel and ended up as the winner.
US cyclists Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) finished in 61st place, and Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) finished in 81st. The first 115 riders who crossed the finish line all received the same time, although the top finishers received time bonuses.
Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Australia; that's 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT Tuesday in the US. Highlights of Stage 1 will be televised at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Versus; Stage 2 will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Top 10 after Stage 1
1. Matthew Goss (HTC Columbia)
2. Andre Greipel (Omega), 4 seconds behind
3. Robbie McEwen (RadioShack), 6 seconds
4. Mitchell Docker (UNI), 7 seconds
5. Mathieu Perget (AG2R), 7 seconds
6. Simon Clarke (Astana), 7 seconds
7. Miguel Minguez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 7 seconds
8. Chris Sutton (Sky), 10 seconds
9. Elia Viviani (Liquigas), 10 seconds
10. Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil), 10 seconds
Recent Comments