For the most part, the final day of the Tour de France is a rolling celebration for the man and the team holding the maillot jaune at the start of the day. Champagne is poured and drank, photo-ops are prevalent and the pace is equivalent to most touring rides [at least until the peloton reaches the streets of Paris].

While the ceremony and traditions held firm, the day offered up something special to those Down Under and historic to those that follow cycling.

With a near perfectly ridden 20 days in the books, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) became the first Australian to win the Grand Boucle in its 108 year history. The pre-Tour favorite was surrounded by his team moments after he crossed the finish line on the Champs Elysees.

The Luxembourg bookends of Andy and Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek) would join Evans on the final podium as he was serenaded with the Australian national anthem by countrywoman Tina Arena.

But, the 34-year old Aussie was not the only rider to make history on the streets of Paris. With four wins already in his pocket, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) earned his fifth in a decidedly easy fashion. The win, his third overall on the fabled cobbles of the Champs Elysees, also made the rider from the Isle of Man the first British maillot vert winner in Tour history.

A hard rushing Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) and Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma Lotto) finished in second and third, respectively.

Results - Stage 21
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
3. André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto

General Classification After Stage 21
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - 86:12:22
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - 0:01:34
3. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - 0:02:30
4. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar - 0:03:20
5. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard - 0:03:57
6. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi - 0:04:55
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD - 0:06:05
8. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:07:23
9. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo - 0:08:15
10. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale - 0:10:11

Jersey Leaders After Stage 21
maillot jaune - Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
maillot vert - Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
maillot a pois rouges - Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
maillot blanc - Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar

Quick Stepping Through The Tour - Ciolek Ninth on Champs Elysees

The 21st and last stage of the Tour de France brought the riders from Creteil to the world famous Champs-Elysees in Paris. The first kilometers the riders were chatting and celebrating with each other. It was also a beautiful moment for the photographers to shoot some beautiful pictures. After a slow start with the usual jokes and celebrations the peloton reached the Champs-Elysees with 50 kilometers to go. Immediately a group of 6 riders took off and gained a minute advantage.

In the peloton, the teams of the sprinters worked hard including the riders of our Quick-Step Cycling Team. The boys of Wilfried Peeters chased hard to reel the escapees in and to bring their sprinter Gerald Ciolek to the front. The German sprinter was well placed in the final kilometer, but had no answer to the power of Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) and his lead-out train. Cavendish took his 5th stage win in this Tour, Ciolek finished in 9th place.

After 21 stages Cadel Evans was crowned to overall winner, the first Australian winner in the Tour`s history. On the final podium, Evans was accompanied by the Schleck brothers. Kevin de Weert reached Paris in 13th position, reaching his goal to improve his last year`s 18th position.

Photos: (top: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images; bottom: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com)

A winner on Stage 5 and again on Stage 7, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) claimed his third victory of the 98th Tour de France, and his 18th overall.

Through a late downpour, HTC-Highroad proved to be too much for the rest of the sprinters' teams as they mercilessly delivered their home run hitter to the plate in the closing meters. And the fastest man on two wheels would take it from there.

A late charge from the day's previous winner, Omega Pharm-Lotto's André Greipel, looked promising, but Cavendish was too far ahead at that point to even care. He would saunter to the line, with Greipel following in second and American Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Cervelo) in third.

Results - Stage 11
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
2. André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto
3. Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo

General Classification After Stage 11
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
2. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
4. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
6. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
7. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
8. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
9. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek

Jersey Leaders After Stage 11
maillot jaune - Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
maillot vert - Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
maillot a pois rouges - Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
maillot blanc - Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team

Quick Stepping Through The Tour

The 11th stage in the Tour de France was the final flat stage before the riders head for the mountains. Also today the weather conditions were bad again. From the start the riders were troubled by pouring rain. Just outside Blaye-les-Mines several riders tried their luck to get into the day`s breakaway. Eventually a group of 6 riders opened a gap and with permission of the peloton they extended their lead to 4 minutes.

The gap of the breakaway stayed around the 4 minutes for a while. On its way to the intermediate sprint the peloton accelerated and got some time back, but after the intermediate sprint was passed the gap of the escapees grew to 4 minutes again. The sprinters` teams then took command in the bunch and closed the gap second by second. The breakaway worked well together and didn`t want to capitulate quickly. At just 2 kilometers from the finish the last of the escapees were reeled in.

In Lavaur another bunch sprint had to bring the decision in this stage. Cavendish took his third stage win of this Tour beating Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo). Gerald Ciolek felt better than yesterday and finished in 12th place. Sylvain Chavanel finished in the first peloton again. "Today I was feeling a bit better than I had been these last few days. I tried to stay ahead and help De Weert stay in the lead positioning to avoid falls. For the final I preferred to slide back to the rear of the group to avoid any risks. Tomorrow things are going to start getting serious on the climbs. It won't be easy, considering the problems I'm having with my shoulder. I'll be suffering on the climbs, but I'm going to try to do everything I can to be useful to the team and De Weert in particular."

Next: Stage 12 - Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden (209km)

Photos: (top: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images; bottom: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com)

It would take a transfer to Omega Pharma-Lotto for André Greipel to finally make it onto his first Tour de France squad, but the big German proved he belonged.

The Gorilla, whose most notable destruction was that of the 2008 Tour Down Under, where he won four stages on his way to victory in the overall and points jersey competitions, accomplished what few riders dare to dream. Greipel would lock horns with Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) in the finale of the 161 kilometer Stage 10 and beat him straight-up, one-on-one.

Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar Team) would take third.

Results - Stage 10
1. André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto
2. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team

General Classification After Stage 10
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
2. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
4. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
6. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
7. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
8. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
9. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek

Jersey Leaders After Stage 10
maillot jaune - Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
maillot vert - Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
maillot a pois rouges - Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
maillot blanc - Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team

Quick Stepping Through The Tour

After a well deserved rest day the peloton continued the Tour de France with the 10th stage. A crash after just 10 kilometres frightened the peloton. Jerome Pineau was involved, but got back on his bike quickly without serious consequences. “I couldn’t do anything to avoid the fall. It’s never fun to wipe out, but luckily the consequences weren’t too serious. I just have some scrapes on my left side and knee, but they shouldn’t be a problem.” In the meanwhile several riders tried their luck attacking from the bunch. A group of 6 riders managed to open a small gap. Pineau launched a counter attack, but didn`t succeed in bridging the gap. The 6 escapees took a maximum advantage of 4 minutes.

The escapees didn`t get much space from the bunch, which aimed at a bunch sprint. The early escapees were reeled in with 20 kilometers to go. On the final climb of the day another group of 5 riders attacked. Dries Devenyns was one of the escapees and seemed on his way to a nice success. "When Gilbert got moving on the last climb I followed him with determination. We got a good lead, but in the lead group not everyone was collaborating. Tony Martin clearly wasn’t cooperating in order to favor Cavendish’s sprint. So I preferred not to force things. In these situations it’s also important to understand if a move will be successful or not. I’m happy, anyway. My legs are spinning really well, even after the rest day. We’ll see in the next few days if there will be any other chances”, said Devenyns.

The 5 escapees including Devenyns were caught just before the line. In the sprint the German sprinter Greipel won the stage in front of Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar). The Quick-Step Cycling Team missed its sprinters in the front today. Gerald Ciolek is suffering from a saddle sore that makes it uncomfortable for him to stay on his saddle. Gert Steegmans is still experiencing pain in his left wrist; he finished the stage almost 6 minutes behind the winner. Kevin de Weert was one of the riders who finished in the front and crossed the line in 20th place. "Again today the day went by without problems or falls. I tried to stay out in front to avoid surprises, and also because often after the rest day the legs might not be super.” French champion Sylvain Chavanel also finished in the first group. "Today I finished in the first group. It was hard for me, but the rest day surely helped me a lot. At the moment I still don’t have the energy I need to attack, but I’m hoping that in the next days I won’t have any more troubles and maybe I can try to needle my way ahead of the group.”

Next: Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur (168km)

Photo: (top: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images; bottom: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com

A few days ago there were more than a few people, including myself, who were wondering if the HTC-Highroad train had seen its best days and whether something were amiss with Mark Cavendish.

But on Stage 7, the retooled HTC-Highroad lead out train looked like a seasoned and well oiled machine, and Mark Cavendish, well he was his dominant self. The team was a perfect mesh of speed and synergy in delivering The Manxman to his second win of the 98th edition of the Tour de France and his 17th of his young career.

Italy's Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD) would capture second and Cavendish's former teammate, André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) would come in third.

Unfortunately for Stage 3 victor Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo), he would never get the opportunity to contest both the day's intermediate and final sprints. The young American was one of a dozen riders who would get caught up in another massive pile up. The crash would cause a split in the field and take with it a pair of notable contenders.

Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) and Chris Horner (Team RadioShack) were perhaps the two biggest casualties as Wiggins was forced to abandoned with a broken clavicle and Horner, who finished the stage but afterward was unaware of ever crossing the finish line, was taken to a local hospital with a suspected concussion.

Results - Stage 7
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
3. André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto

General Classification After Stage 7
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
3. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
4. David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek
7. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
8. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
9. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team

Jersey Leaders After Stage 7
maillot jaune - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
maillot vert - Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
maillot à pois rouges - Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
maillot blanc - Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team

Quick Stepping Through The Tour - Boonen Out

The Tour de France is over for Tom Boonen. The former world champion was troubled by his injuries after his crash in the fifth stage. After 90 kilometers in the seventh stage he climbed into the sporting director`s car. In the meanwhile, an escape group of 4 riders animated the stage. They were in the front for over 200 kilometers, but were caught with 12 kilometers to go. In the bunch sprint Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) took his second stage win of this Tour. Gerald Ciolek couldn`t improve on his yesterday`s 8th place finish. The German rider and his team mates Dries Devenyns, Addy Engels and Gert Steegmans were involved in a crash that occurred 37 kilometers from the line and finished in the second peloton.

Immediately after the start a group of 4 riders attacked from the peloton. The peloton didn`t launch a pursuit, so the escapees opened up a gap quickly. The peloton took it quite easy during the first kilometers with the average speed not crossing 40 km/h. Fortunately there weren`t any big crashes in the first half of the race. After 90 kilometers Boonen dropped from the bunch to visit the team car. After some chatting with sports director Wilfried Peeters he left the race. The Quick-Step Cycling Team has now 8 riders left in the Tour de France.

"Yesterday just after the arrival I felt good, it felt like everything was going to be resolved soon,” explained Boonen. “But in the evening I started feeling worse. Last night I hardly slept, I had a headache and pain in my back and shoulders. This morning I tried getting back on my bike anyway. But during the race I wasn’t lucid, I didn’t feel safe. My head started spinning and I couldn’t keep my concentration. I hung out towards the back of the group but it was too dangerous to continue in these conditions, for me as well as for the rest of the group.” Boonen then reflected on his sporting objectives. “I’m very disappointed, I prepared well for this Tour and I think I could have definitely had some chances to go for it. The Tour is like that, the first week is always complicated to interpret, but I like this race and I’ll be back. Now I want to recuperate as best I can and reconsider my schedule for the following weeks. The work I did to get in shape for this Tour will come back to me and be useful in the near future.”

Jerome Pineau added a small positive note to the day, finishing 11th.

Next: Stage 8 - Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy (190km)

Photo: (top: Byrn Lennon/Getty Images; bottom: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com)

Eighteen stages into the twenty-one stage Giro d'Italia, Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) has finally chimed in. Better late than never.

Ever since Greipel, the overwhelming victor of the 2010 Tour Down Under, touched down on Italian soil, he has struggled; even giving way to teammate Matthew Goss in the Stage 9 sprint. But on the final day for the sprinters, the 27-year old German showed that he was back and snatched the Stage 18 win from Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) and Tiziano dall'Antonia (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo.

"I'm not a machine but a human being," Greipel told Cyclingnews. "It's because I got sick two days before the Giro that I hadn't won a stage yet but it was worth staying in the race. I've had to wait for a long time."

Results - Stage 18
1. Andre Greipel (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions
3. Tiziano dall'Antonia (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo

David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) heads into the final two days in the mountains needing just to remain within shouting distance of his challengers on the slopes. He currently holds a 2:27 lead over second place Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo), 2:44 over Richie Porte (Team Saxo Bank), 3:09 on fourth placed Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), and 4:41 on countryman, Carlos Sastre Candil (Cervelo Test Team). Ultimately, the GC may be decided on the final day with the Verona Individual Time Trial, but unless Arroyo's competitors break him in the mountains, Verona may just be a mere formality for the 30-year old from Toledo.

General Classification - After Stage 18
1. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
3. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
5. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
8. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
9. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo

Jersey Leaders - After Stage 18
maglia rosa - David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
maglia ciclamino - Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
maglia verde - Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto
maglia bianca - Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 19 - Brescia to Aprica (195 km)

Photo: Getty Images

Team Sky capped the opening event of the 2010 UCI ProTour calendar in the same way they opened it, with a 1-2 finish. Chris Sutton would take the Stage 6 bunch sprint just ahead of teammate Greg Henderson, who opened the team's account with a victory in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic. Rabobank's Graeme Brown would round out the podium, finishing third.

"It was the perfect lead-out, all the boys played their part and I just went as long as I could," stated Sutton. "If Hendy comes round me, he comes round me but to get a one-two is amazing."

With the second place finish on the stage, Henderson would claim the last spot on the final podium below Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) and newly crowned two-time Tour Down Under champion, Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia).

Results Stage 6
1. Chris Sutton (Team Sky)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

With the overall victory, HTC-Columbia's Greipel became the second rider in the twelve year history of the event to win it twice; Australian Stuart O'Grady winning the inaugural and the 2001 edition as part of Credit Agricole.

General Classification - Final
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Samuel Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
3. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
4. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
5. Luke Roberts (Team Milram)
6. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
7. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha)
8. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions
10. Markus Fothen (Team Milram

More:
Germany's Andre Greipel wins Tour Down Under as Team Sky takes final stage
Armstrong impresses his boss
Experts hail 2010 as greatest Tour Down Under

Heading into Stage 5 of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under, the opportunities to overtake current race leader, Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia), were limited, if not completely non-existent.

But that fact did not stop Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), or the rest of the peloton, from testing the big German and his seemingly indomitable HTC-Columbia squad. If cycling’s history has taught us anything it is that fortune is fickle, and the outcome of a race is only certain once the "provisional" is taken away from the results.

Once again, the parcours, which featured several passes of Old Willunga Hill before an uphill finish, favored a sprinter/climber, like Evans or Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), rather than the true sprinter. Several riders animated the race early, but those attempts would serve only as a prelude to the drama that was about to unfold on the final ascent of Old Willunga Hill.

The finale seemed more rife with anticipation than usual as spectators and riders alike were uncertain as to when an attack would occur. Cadel Evans would answer the call, putting in a demonstrative attack to which only Caisse d’Epargne teammates, Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez, and Australian Luke Roberts (Milram) were able to respond.

A frantic and frenetic scene ensued with the foursome jostling for the stage win and for an outside chance, at least for Evans, of stealing the ochre leader's jersey off the shoulders of the German giant. For a brief moment, the attack looked to pay big dividends, as Evans led the break in the closing kilometers and was named the virtual leader on the road.

But with teammates in the break and a newly motivated peloton behind, Evans fell just short on both accounts. Valverde would set up Sanchez for the win, Roberts would take second ahead of Valverde, and a hard charging peloton would enable Greipel to hold on to the overall lead.

With the forthcoming circuit race around Adelaide as the only remaining hurdle on the schedule, Greipel is now all but assured the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under title.

Results Stage 5
1. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
2. Luke Roberts (Milram)
3. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
3. Luke Roberts (Team Milram)
4. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
5. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
6. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
7. Eduard Vorganov (Team Katusha)
8. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
9. Markus Fothen (Team Milram)
10. Andriy Grivko (Astana)

More:
Greipel sights victory as Armstrong hopes fade
Armstrong vows no 'goofing off' after Tour

Next: Adelaide City Council Stage 6 - Adelaide (Circuit Race, 90km)

The parcours for Thursday's Stage 4 of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under were as close to ideal for the sprinters as they come. And when the occasion arose, the fastmen did not disappoint.

Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia) remained the peloton's unsolvable puzzle as he would take the bunch sprint ahead of Australians Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha) and Graeme Brown (Rabobank), and stake claim to his third stage in four tries.

Since Greipel arrived Down Under in 2008, the 27-year-old German has essentially owned the race. The overall champion and points classifications winner in 2008, Greipel has now won 8 of the 13 stages he has started. Although the Stage 5 profile, with several passes up Willunga Hill before an uphill finish, does not particularly suit his talents, Greipel is more than likely to win his second Tour Down Under championship, and perhaps one last stage in the process.

At this point, would you bet against him?

In addition to fighting another day of high temperatures, the peloton was besieged by strong winds along the 149.5km route from Norwood to Goolwa. Nonetheless, the baroudeur-rouleur would give it another go.

David Kemp (UniSA-Australia) and Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) would once again launch themselves off-the-front, accompanied this time by Thomas Frei (BMC Racing), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Thomas Rohregger (Milram), Anthony Ravard (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The break would stay away for the majority of the Mutual Community Stage 4 only to be swept away, literally, by day's end.

At the peloton's arrival into Goolwa, Lance Armstrong and Team RadioShack teammate Tomas Vaitkus would launch a late attack, but like the earlier break, they would not survive the onslaught from the voracious, hard charging sprinters.

Results - Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
4. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
5. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
6. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
8. Andriy Grivko (Astana)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)
10. Baden Cooke (Team Saxo Bank)

More:
Andre Greipel has Tour Down Under at his mercy
Lance attacks but Greipel too good

Next: Jayco Stage 5 - Snapper Point to Willunga (148km)

With an uphill finish in Stirling, the expectations for the sprinter/climbers in the peloton, such as Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and current World Champion, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), were great. And while both men represented themselves well, finishing second and third, respectively, on the day, it would be the relatively unknown Portuguese rider Manuel Cardoso (Footon-Servetto) who would stake claim to 132.5 km Stage 3 of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under; his first ProTour victory.

On a scorching hot day, the stage from Unley to Stirling started off like the previous two, with several breakaway attempts. Strangely enough, the break that would finally stick also happened to be the most dangerous for any in the peloton who had hopes of bringing home a stage victory.

A five-man group composed of the eternal breakaway, Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank), rising Australian star, Jack Bobridge (Team Garmin-Transitions), Karsten Kroon (BMC Racing), Simon Clarke (Team UniSA-Australia), and Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Doimo) managed to get off-the-front midway through the contest. The break would work together well, but the group was never allowed to build more than a minute and a half lead.

Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team exerted the pressure on the road, and the sun from above, to help wilt the lead group down to two, Bobridge and Clarke, as the peloton began the first of two finishing circuits. Despite a series of late attacks, the peloton would eventually be brought back together for the leg breaking uphill finish.

The 27-year old Cardoso, the current Portuguese National Road Race Champion, proved the strongest of the bunch, while race leader Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) did just enough to remain in the ochre jersey.

Results - Stage 3
1. Manuel Cardoso (Footon Servetto)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team

General Classification After Stage 3
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
3. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
4. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
5. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
6. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
8. Andriy Grivko (Astana)
9. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
10. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)

More:
Manuel Cardoso wins third stage of Tour Down Under
Team Sky cycling boss denies pressure to deliver
Cardoso Surprises In Uphill Finish

Next: Mutual Community Stage 4 - Norwood to Goolwa (149.5km)

Photo: James Knowler

HTC-Columbia's Greipel Doubles Up

The names have changed, but the outcome remained the same. For the second day in row, a break of three would make the race, but Andre Greipel and HTC-Columbia would once again swoop in for the victory.

David Kemp (UniSA Australia) and Omega Pharma-Lotto teammates, Mickael Delage and Olivier Kaisen would throw down the gauntlet early on the 133.5km Stage 2 from Gawler to Hahndorf, establishing a gap of well over 11 minutes at the 35km mark. With soaring temperatures and the challenge of the event's first real climb, positioned at the latter half of the stage, conditions seemed favorable for the breakaway to spoil the party for the sprinters’ teams.

But with a run into the finish of roughly 40km after cresting the climb up Checker Hill Road, the trio would eventually succumb to the wheels of inevitability.

With less that 7kms to go, Team RadioShack, attempting to get Gert Steegmans a win and quite possibly into the ochre leader’s jersey, pulled the group back together. Andre Greipel and HTC-Columbia, however, would have the final say as the big German would breeze to victory just ahead of Greg Henderson (Team Sky) and the always game Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha).

Although four stages and hundreds of kilometers remain in the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under, the event already has all the earmarks of a rout; and a giant-sized German one at that.

Result - Stage 2
1. Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
3. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)

General Classification After Stage 2
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
3. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
4. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
5. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
6. Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing Team)
7. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
8. Baden Cooke (Team Saxo Bank)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)
10. Jose Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne)

Next: Stage 3 - Unley to Stirling (132.5km)