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Tour of Taiwan report II · 20/03/10

With the team knocking on the door for a stage win it was only a matter of time before Deano stepped onto the podium. But doing it on the hilliest stage of the race was somewhat unexpected as the latest team car updates from Phil West testifies!

Stage 5

The plan was for Matt Cronshaw and Graham Briggs to get in the moves early on so that Dean Downing, Dean Windsor and Ben Greenwood could sit back and save their energy. After 20km Briggsy was in a three man break which stayed clear for the best part of 80km, with a lead topping 2m 45s. Approaching the first major climb the break was reeled in and Briggsy was caught halfway up the climb. Over the top of the climb a select group came together containing Deano, Dean W and Ben G.

After a really fast descent the group started the final climb of the day and while Deano sat comfortably in the group, Dean W and Ben G collected bottles and helped him hold position. Another selection was made over the climb and Dean W was distanced after covering a dangerous move mid climb. This left Ben G and Deano at the front of the race. The run in from the final climb was fairly fast, rolling up and down but nothing serious. Ben picked Deano up and kept him at the front, sheltering him from the wind before he hitched onto the CCC-Polsat lead-out train. Watching from the finish line, Deano got the jump on the CCC-Polsat rider early at 200m to go and from his jump the riders were just in one line along the barriers. Only the Japanese green jersey wearer was able to challenge but Deano was too strong in the final 50m.

I was really happy with how the riders worked as a team on this stage, each had their own roles and that support was what brought Deano to the finish with enough gas to win the sprint.

Stage 6

With the pressure off after yesterday’s win, the mood in the camp was good. The riders were buoyant and wanted to get stuck into the race and just enjoy the day’s racing. There were two tough climbs ahead but with the final climb coming with 65km still to ride, the chances of a break succeeding were slim. The aim was to cover anything that was dangerous but look after themselves and get over the climbs so that on the run-in they could animate the race. As a fall back plan they would lead out the sprint for Deano where a time bonus would sneak him up the GC.

With the first KOM points after 18km it was vital that all riders were at the front of the race. They all made it over the first climb without any problems. Following this, the route followed the coast where crosswinds battered the field. A small group went away but with a rider in the break that was only 1 minute down on GC, the move was quickly pegged and caught going onto the second KOM of the day. This climb turned out to be the most difficult of the race, with sections in the final kilometre a 1 in 4 gradient. After this, Rapha had four riders at the front, the final 65km then turned into a war with moves going all over the place.

Running into the finish, Ben G did put some really hard turns in at the front so that there was no opportunity for a late attack, while Matt C and Dean W rode for Deano, helping him hold position and sheltering him from the wind. Into the final kilometre, Deano was hijacking the CCC- Polsat lead out with Dean W riding shotgun to prevent any riders getting a run onto Deano in the finish. At 200m to go, the Polsat rider jumped and Deano countered, holding the Japanese green jersey on his hip in the process. Deano was gaining on the Pole but ran out of time and took second place. Dean W followed him home to a great 7th place after putting in lots of work. Deano is now 6th on GC at 29 seconds and 2nd in the point’s competition.

So all in all, a solid performance from the team and a little inspiration for those who head to Normandy this weekend for the Tour of Normandy which gets underway on Monday.

Tour of Taiwan on cyclingnews.com »

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