The Queen Stage of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under did not disappoint with the dramatic finish line atop Willunga Hill. Drapac was again in the breakaway for the day with Jordan Kerby going on the attack.

Kerby jumped away as the stage departed a very cheerful crowd in McLaren Vale. Jack Bobridge (UniSA) went with Kerby, and Greg Henderson (Lotto-Soudal) quickly bridged across. The trio was working well and established a five-minute plus gap rather quickly.

“I jumped and Jack came with and then Greg came across. We were working really well together and those guys were riding really strong. I like to go in the breaks when I can and I quite enjoy racing that way,” Kerby said.

At nearly 100km, Kerby dropped off the wheels of Bobridge and Henderson. Bobridge was solo to the top of the climb, having dropped Henderson and a group of 20 riders looming behind Bobridge. Drapac’s Tim Roe was settled into this lead group and was placed well as he entered the packed hilltop on the first climb.

The throttle got turned up with 5km to go as the lead pack began the final climb, at which point BMC and Team Sky began their moves from a formidable tactical playbook.

“I felt good going up the climb but I got myself into a bad position in the group with the crosswinds. All day, the team did a great job keeping me out of the wind and working for me,” Roe said. “I had different hopes for this race. I can take the positives away (from this race) as a whole and look forward to the next race. I am definitely happy to be back racing at this level,” Roe added.

Tom Southam, Sports Director, felt the riders executed the team’s plan well.

“It was the first day I have asked Jordan to go in the break and he did that job very well. Tim was well placed over the first climb and made the initial selection but got caught out in the crosswinds heading in to the final climb. It was disappointing for him as he had the legs on the climb. He just missed out due to positioning,” Southam added.

Richie Porte (Team Sky) won the stage with a powerful attack with 1 km to go that left Rohan Dennis (BMC) to settle for second. Rubin Fernandez (Movistar) came through in third.