Greipel wins again but renshaw holds the lead in tour down under

3 months ago 25th Jan 16:36

German sprint sensation Andre Greipel (Team High Road) collected his second stage win in an action packed fourth stage of the Tour Down Under edging out tour leader, Australia's Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole) and Spaniard Jose Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne) in a sprint finish in Strathalbyn.

Greipel's win, which carried a ten second bonus, has moved him up to second overall, four seconds behind Renshaw with Queensland's Allan Davis (Australia-UniSA) sitting third overall at seven seconds.

131 starters rode off from the Murray River town of Mannum this morning for a hot day in the saddle over 134km through the Adelaide Hills to the Fleurieu Peninsula and into the finish. The temperature topped 30 degrees and the race action was just as hot with a flurry of early attacks.

"It was really on for the first two hours," said Renshaw whose team was charged with maintaining control of the race to protect his lead. "We were getting hit from left, right and centre.

"All the power of CSC and Caisse d’Epargne and the peloton split to pieces but it all came back together and most importantly it stayed together for a bunch sprint," said Renshaw. "I managed to stay calm and was not too nervous at the finish and it paid off."

Cross winds buffetted the peloton early in the stage as the race travelled through the Murrayland to the Adelaide Hills and Greipel says it was tough going.

"It was really busy today and there were a lot of breakaways with the wind," said Greipel. "In the end we were lucky and we had a second win for the tour."

More about Greipel wins again but renshaw holds the lead in tour down under on page 2