ADELAIDE: Australia's Cameron Meyer saw his lead of the Tour Down Under narrow to only eight seconds yesterday as Spain's Francisco Ventoso dominated a bunch sprint to win the race's fifth stage. Meyer took a 12-sec lead over his main challenger, Matthew Goss, into the 131.8 km stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga, which took in two ascents of the usually decisive Willunga Hill.
Although losing four seconds to fellow Aussie Goss, the 23-year-old Gamin-Cervelo all-rounder ultimately finished the hardest stage of the race with the ochre jersey still on his shoulders.
Goss, who was third on the stage behind Ventoso and Aussie Michael Matthews (Rabobank) is second overall at 08secs with Dutchman Laurens Ten Dam third at 10.
Yesterday's fifth stage proved fatal to Robbie McEwen's chances of finishing high up in the general classification.
McEwen (RadioShack) started the day in fourth overall at only 15secs behind Meyer but finished 1min 48sec off the pace to drop to 35th at 2:03.
Today's sixth and final stage is a 90km criterium in the streets of Adelaide, where a total of 16 seconds in bonus seconds are available -- three each at the intermediate sprints and 10 at the finish. -- AFP
Although losing four seconds to fellow Aussie Goss, the 23-year-old Gamin-Cervelo all-rounder ultimately finished the hardest stage of the race with the ochre jersey still on his shoulders.
Goss, who was third on the stage behind Ventoso and Aussie Michael Matthews (Rabobank) is second overall at 08secs with Dutchman Laurens Ten Dam third at 10.
Yesterday's fifth stage proved fatal to Robbie McEwen's chances of finishing high up in the general classification.
McEwen (RadioShack) started the day in fourth overall at only 15secs behind Meyer but finished 1min 48sec off the pace to drop to 35th at 2:03.
Today's sixth and final stage is a 90km criterium in the streets of Adelaide, where a total of 16 seconds in bonus seconds are available -- three each at the intermediate sprints and 10 at the finish. -- AFP
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