Hollmann into decisive break at Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under (finale)

26-rider move featuring Movistar Team youngster helps Matt Holmes (LTS) eventually pip race winner Richie Porte (TFS) atop Willunga; Impey (MTS)'s hopes ruined as Sergio Samitier finishes as top Blue today, 52" down.

Tasmanian Richie Porte (TFS) conquered the Tour Down Under on Sunday for the second time in his career as he left all of his rivals behind into the decisive climb of Willunga, where the race came to its traditional end with two tough climbs after a very tense 151km from the start in McLaren Vale (st. 6).

Jürgen Roelandts during stage six. (c) Dario Belingheri / BettiniPhoto

Brit Matthew Holmes (LTS) took the day’s victory from a massive 26-rider breakaway which put the peloton’s dominance into jeopardy. As Joey Rosskopf (CCC), KOM classification leader and just under 1′ off the lead of Daryl Impey (MTS) in GC, was part of the group, the chase was forced to work hard to bring back a group which rose to nearly five minutes of advantage. Juri Hollmann (Movistar Team) was one of the riders involved in that move.

Sergio Samitier was the top Movistar Team finisher in Willunga. (c) Dario Belingheri / BettiniPhoto

The German had the Telefónica-backed squad covered into the break until the first of the two climbs, as his team-mates held on to a GC group where Impey soon showed his weakness after a week of big efforts. Sergio Samitier, 52″ behind Holmes, was the best Blue finisher today.

Edu Prades at the start, with logical difficulties to get dressed because of the bandages on his left arm. (c) Dario Belingheri / BettiniPhoto

Lluís Mas, 1’57” down Porte, led the Movistar Team’s GC performance as Edu Prades continued to struggle due to his crash on Friday, which didn’t still keep him from finishing the race together with the rest of the Unzué-managed squad. The expedition led by José Luis Arrieta will start their journey back to Spain on Tuesday.

Cover picture (c): Dario Belingheri / BettiniPhoto