Drapac Professional Cycling again featured in the day’s breakaway at the Santos Tour Down Under. Travis Meyer worked hard in the Stage 3 escape, which was eventually caught before the decisive Corkscrew climb before the finale in Campbelltown.
With the breakaway reeled in 17km before the finish of the 145km stage, the team was in good position. One of the strongest riders this week, Wes Sulzberger then punctured nearing the base of the climb. Twenty-three year-old Robbie Hucker was the team’s best finisher in 26th place, 1:00 behind stage winner, Cadel Evans (BMC).
Here are the reactions from the team –
Henk Vogels, Directeur Sportif:
Travis got caught with about 10km before the bottom of the climb. One of our better climbers, Wes Sulzberger punctured when the peloton was hitting 80km/h and Will Clarke stopped and gave him a wheel – he got there before I did. He tried to get back on but the bunch was just going too fast.
Robbie Hucker finished in the second group but a couple of the boys’ lights went out on the climb.
It was a good ride by the team today.
Travis was fantastic. When we heard Jens Voigt was coming we told Travis to ease up and wait for him. Getting caught at the bottom of the climb it’s a good day out for the boys in red.
Robbie Hucker:
The stage was just so fast. It was probably 20kms to the climb and it was full gas. We just tried to keep it all together and stay in good position. I got pulled up as we turned left and I just had to use a lot of effort to get up to the guys. It was pretty much a case of where ever you went over the top of the climb was where you finished. A minute behind the leaders isn’t too bad. I would have liked to be a bit further up. There’s always another day.
Coming down the Gorge you can’t really do much about a puncture; the cars can’t get in quick enough. I think Will gave Wes his wheel which was pretty good of him. It was another tough day.
Travis Meyer:
I was the first to roll off the front and it took a while before anyone wanted to come with me so I was a bit worried that I would be out there by myself. We had a good group of four with Andriy Grivko and Jens Voigt. It was a pretty hard day out there and we really tried our best there towards the end but it’s pretty hard when you only get given two-and-a-half minutes.
Drapac snapshot results:
Stage 3 –
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 03:34:05
26. Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:01:00
36. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:01:34
40. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
70. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:04:17
89. Wes Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:06:22
120. Will Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:10:46
121. Travis Meyer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:11:35
General Classification after Stage 3 –
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 10:49:39
27. Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:01:18
30. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:01:52
31. Bernie Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
64. Wes Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:06:40
66. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:06:52
102. Travis Meyer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 0:14:05
128. Will Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
Sprint Classification –
1.Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 42
7. Will Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 15
19. Travis Meyer (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 8
King of the Mountains Classification –
1. Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol 20
2. Will Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional 20
Team Classification –
1. BMC Racing Team 32:21:17
6. Drapac Professional Cycling 0:03:42