Tour Down Under: Trentin attacks, Bakelants 14th

Tour Down Under: Trentin attacks, Bakelants 14th

The 5th stage of the Tour Down Under included the famous Willunga Hill. OPQS rider Matteo Trentin animated the stage with an escape group. At the finish 3 OPQS rider were in the top-20.

Early in the stage a group of 4 riders attacked. Matteo Trentin was accompanied by Jens Voigt (Trek), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar). The lead group opened up a gap of 9 minutes when the peloton started the chase under command of Team Sky and Orica-GreenEdge. With 42 kilometres to go the gap was around 3 minutes.

On the first climb of the Willunga Hill the lead group fell apart. Voigt and Trentin remained in the front, but were caught with 16 kilometers to go. On the final climb the GC contenders took command. Richie Porte (Team Sky) launched a decisive attack and won the stage solo, 10 seconds in front of Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge). OPQS rider Jan Bakelants ended 14th at 43 seconds, team mates Serge Pauwels and Carlos Verona ended 16th and 17th.