Michael Hepburn wins second stage of 2011 Glava Tour of Norway: Cycling News
Jayco-AIS team’s Michael Hepburn won the second stage of 2011 Glava Tour of Norway on Thursday, June 2. The race started in Skien and ended at Drammen.
The 19-year-old, Australian track cyclist took a total of 4 hours, 12 minutes and 29 seconds to cover a distance of 172.6 kilometres.
Jayco-AIS team kept the race under control in the final kilometres. Michael powered across the finish-line, ahead of Rene Jorgensen of Christina Watches-Ofone team.
Race leader, Wilco Kelderman of the Rabobank Continental team, was in good form, but he grabbed the third place.
After finishing the race, the Sport Director, Arthur Dong, was very happy with the results and he told the media, "We knew we had to climb in fourteen kilometers from the finish was sharp enough to capture differences. With Wilco was agreed that he would
try it there if he still felt good."
Ian Bibby of Motorpoint tried his best to catch the five riders, but he failed and grabbed the sixth place with 10 seconds behind Michael.
A group of three riders made their first break, including Rene Jorgensen (Christina Watches-Ofone), Froder Solberg (Sparebanken Vest – Ridley) and Michael Hepburn (Team Jayco-AIS).
All of them took an advantage of 4 minutes, but Rene Jorgensen had good legs and he won the first and second sprint ahead of Michael and Froder.
With 102.8 kilometres to go, Froder Solberg maintained his speed in the first mountain and managed to take a lead of few seconds over Michael. However, in the final circuit, Michael proved too fast for the other riders and crossed the finish-line first.
Wilco Kelderman of Rabobank team won the general classification with a timing of 8 hours, 18 minutes and 50 seconds. Daniel Holm was the runner-up with 5 seconds behind Wilco.
Vegar Robinson Bugge finished third and stage winner, Michael, was in the fourth place with a difference 8 seconds.
Kelderman siad, “I had no problems on the stage today, and we feel the Rabobank has such a strong team that it is hopeless to defend the leader jersey in the coming stages"
The next stage will start in Sarpsborg and end in Halden. All the riders will cover a distance of 174.2 kilometres.
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