Greipel clinches win Down Under

Monday, January 25, 2010
ADELAIDE: Germany’s Andre Greipel clinched an emphatic second Tour Down Under victory on Sunday as Britain’s Team Sky rounded off their debut race in an impressive style.

The 2008 champion crossed fifth to preserve his 11-second overall lead, marking a spectacular return to Australia after he crashed out of last year’s race and missed four months following shoulder surgery.

American cycling legend Lance Armstrong, who is targeting an eighth Tour de France win at the age of 38, which would make him the oldest champion, finished 16 seconds off the winner to place 25th overall.

Team Sky took over in the final section of Sunday’s stage around central Adelaide, with Chris Sutton and Greg Henderson claiming the rich new outfit’s second one-two finish of the week.

Henderson placed third overall, putting Sky on the podium in their maiden outing as they bid to produce Britain’s first ever Tour de France winner. Spain’s Luis Leon Sanchez took second overall.

On Sunday, Australia’s Wesley Sulzberger threatened a sensational upset when he opened up a 43-second lead in a three-man break with four laps of the street circuit to go. But the runaways were caught 2.5 kilometres from the finish and the blue-and-black-clad Sky riders took over in the last section, adding to their first and second places in last Sunday’s pre-Tour street race. Australia’s reigning road race world champion Cadel Evans finished 18th to place sixth overall.