Young local Rohan Dennis (BMC) claimed overall honours on Sunday in South Australia as the 17th edition of the Tour Down Under brought back its sweeter taste to the Movistar Team after injuries, crashes and illness hit them hardin 2014. The lads directed by José Luis Arrieta started off magnificently - ranked 3rd behind Sky and an unstoppable BMC with two podium finishers - their defense of the two consecutive WorldTour titles by showing compenetration and a good atmosphere, two factors that have always set him on the path to success.
The domestique work by Lastras and Sanz, plus the good level into the climbs by Herrada and Capecchi were crucial for the Blues' two successes of the week: the spectacular win by Juanjo Lobato on day two, after a late puncture in the final lap of the circuit around Stirling, and the GC top-5 by Rubén Fernández, who responded perfectly to leadership responsibility after his team-mate Gorka Izagirre - brilliant until that point and also afterwards - struggled at the end of the Paracombe climb on Friday. The Basque was eighth - one place up after Machado (KAT) was caught in a late crash today, making it impossible for Lobato to sprint - in the final classification, with Fernandez netting a great 3rd up the Willunga Hill on Saturday.
Movistar's final victory in the team standings confirmed the return of a love story between the Blues and Australia, having won a stage with Ventoso in 2011, another with Valverde in 2012 plus 2nd overall and a second GC podium with Moreno two years ago. The group will take their first of two flights back to Spain this very night.
Jay DUTTON 31 years | today |
Evgeniy KRIVOSHEEV 36 years | today |
Shao Yung CHIANG 40 years | today |
André VITAL 42 years | today |
Elisa LUGLI 22 years | today |
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