Brammeier looking relaxed before the hammer went down today
Omega Pharma-Quickstep’s Matt Brammeier said he rode so hard on today’s second stage of the Tour Down Under that when he did his final lead-out turn and pulled over, he lost over a minute in the final uphill 800 metres.
The Irish national road race and TT champion and the rest of the field were at least given something of a break from the soaring temperatures of yesterday’s opening stage, when the mercury climbed into the high 40s.
The second stage was run off in the more civilised regions of the early 20s.
However, Brammeier said his body was still working a lot harder than normal just to keep cool and that all of the riders were constantly refuelling with food and drink.
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Stage victory today went to Australia’s Will Clarke, a 26-year-old who found himself without a ProTour team to ride for when Leopard Trek merged with Radioshack for the current season.
Clarke signed for the Asian Pro Continental team Champion System and is riding the Santos Tour Down Under for UNI-SA Australian selection.
He took off alone today after 1.1kms of the 148km stage and managed to hold off the field by just over one minute for a famous local victory on what was an undulating stage.
The remaining podium positions were filled by two fellow Australian’s, with 2010 U23 world champion Michael Matthews (Rabobank) taking the bunch sprint for second some 1:02 after Clarke. Newly crowned Australian national road champion Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) was third.
Because Clarke lost time on the opening stage, Martin Kohler of BMC now holds the yellow jersey going into tomorrow’s third stage.
Brammeier was 2:09 down today, 77th in the 133-rider field. He is now 74th overall, 1:19 down. He won’t be too concerned where he finishes. Instead he has prioritised working for the team sprinters in Australia and being in top shape for the spring classics.
His team sprinter Gerald Ciolek managed ninth on today’s stage from Lobethal to Stirling.
