Kemp’s heroic ride in tough conditions
Friday
January 22 2010
Team UniSA-Australia hit out early again today with David Kemp riding heroically in a breakaway that was only captured 12 short kilometres from the finish line.
Along the way Kemp gained three second place awards in the King of the Mountain and both intermediate sprints. An aggressive ride to say the least but no jersey to reward him.
After the race, Kemp was looking incredibly fresh, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Oh well."
Team UniSA-Australia Manager Dave Sanders was surprised the jersey didn't come Kemp’s way because he believed the Queensland rider’s attacking style today set the tone for the whole race.
"If it wasn't for the colossal block of an almost 70 km/h head wind turning into the home stretch, he might have even taken out the stage," Sanders said.
"He was riding that well. It was a very fine performance from Kemp.
"All the boys are doing a great job. Cantwell made it through to the first ten in the final sprint home which was also fabulous."
Team Columbia continued to be relatively unchallenged in its control of the peloton, taking charge when it counts.
They again propelled the amazing Andre Greipel home for a stage win.
Sanders said he would like two riders up front tomorrow in Willunga, young Tim Roe, a natural climber, and anyone else who's up for it.
Kemp will be very fatigued from today's performance but you never know
the way he looked at the end of today's race he might just be up for it.