A triumph of the willing
January 24 2008
There was nothing new about the strategy today but this time it worked a
treat with Allan Davis triumphant in a furious sprint to the finish line
at Victor Harbor.
But according to Davis himself, it was the young Wesley Sulzberger who was the hero of the day.
The plan was always to be part of the breakway and Sulzberger hit out twice with France’s Mikael Delage from Francaise Des Jeux and Finland’s Kjell Carlstrom from Italian team Liquigas, the second time staying as part of the group of three for the bulk of the race including a gruelling climb up Sellicks Hill.
“It was great feeling to be out there all day for the team and the other boys,” Sulzberger said.
Even back in Unley before the race started, the Tasmanian youngster voiced a determination to really go for it today.
Team director Dave Sanders said Sulzberger ride was a Superman effort.
“They weren’t just rolling along in the break, they were going hard and the peloton was finding hard to catch them,” Sanders said. “All along the strategy has been to get one up the road, have him hold position and then have the rest of the team kick in at the final sprint. Today, noone let us down.”
The last 20km of the race was full on. The peloton made a bid to close but then held back because that run would have been too soon. It wasn’t until the last 3km that the peloton caught the breakaway and came into full sprint.
Some six classy sprinters went for the line with the power turned full on, but it was Davis – who finished third after yesterday’s stage, and fourth in stage one and the Sunday’s Tour Down Under Classic - came through with the vital stage win.
“I’m over the moon,” Davis said. “Wes did the job of the day - it was just great for the whole team”
Davis is now second in the general classification, two seconds behind
Australian Credit Agricole rider, Mark Renshaw.