Philip Deignan's (leading) climbing power closed down the breakaway and saw him pull clear in a late escape on stage 2 of the Tour Down Under.
By Gerard Cromwell
Philip Deignan has had another busy day at the Tour Down Under in Australia today, forcing the pace on the penultimate climb of stage 2 to try and set up an attack for his Team Sky leaders Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas.
A three-man escape group of Campbell Flakemore (Uni-SA), William Clarke (Drapac Cycling) and Boy Van Poppel (Trek Factory Racing) went clear after 10km of the 150km stage from Prospect to Stirling but never gained more than three minutes on another hot day in suburban Adelaide.
While the Orica-GreenEdge team set about controlling the peloton in the early stages, Team Sky looked to inject some pace into the race on the penultimate lap with Deignan jumping clear on the finishing ramp as the riders were given the bell.
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The Letterkenny pro’s power on the climb stretched the peloton and saw the escapees quickly hauled in as Deignan went clear with six others.
Team Tinkoff-Saxo and Garmin-Sharp took up the chase soon after though and led into the final kilometres where
Deignan’s team leaders had a mixed day, with Richie Porte’s last kilometre attack being reeled in, seeing the little Aussie take sixth on the stage and Geraint Thomas being held up by a late crash.
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The Welshman however was given the same time as the stage winner and now sits 10th overall, 17 seconds off the lead of stage one winner Simon Gerrans of Orica GreenEdge.
“We tried to put the pressure on and we tried to take some seconds from Simon Gerrans,” said Sky directeur sportif Kurt-Asle Arvesen.
“We did our best but G had some bad luck towards the end where he got caught behind the crash. Richie attacked but the bunch was just too big.
“There’s still two hard stages to go. The boys are ready, they are strong so tomorrow is another chance. We need to try again and put the pressure on. We just have to make sure G and Richie are there when we hit the climb.”
Deignan and Porte are now both 21 seconds off the race lead.
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Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) holds off race leader Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Cadel Evans (BMC) for victory at the end of the 150km stage.
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