Richie Porte wins fifth stage as Simon Gerrans takes overall lead in Tour of Denmark 2011
Saxo Bank Sungard team’s Richie Porte took his first victory after won the fifth stage of Tour of Denmark 2011 in Helsingor on Saturday, August 6. Simon Gerrans takes overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The 26-year-old Australian professional cyclists took the total of 15 minutes and 9 seconds to cover the distance of 13.2 kilometres. Gustav Larsson of Saxo Bank Sungard was runner-up 10 seconds behind Australian.
Simon Gerrans of Sky Procycling showed his good effort and caught the leading rider but failed and grabbed fifth place with the difference of 29 seconds.
Gerrans said, "I'm really happy with my performance tonight, It wasn't a course that suited me at all so I probably put in my best ever performance in a time trial and I'm pretty happy to still be in the yellow jersey heading into tomorrow's final stage."
In the few kilometres to go, the four cyclists made their first breakaway including, Richie Porte (Saxo Bank Sungard), Gustav Larsson (Saxo Bank Sungard), Alex Dowsett (Sky Procycling) and Rasmus Christian Quaade (Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland).
All of them managed to gain a lead of few seconds over the peloton while Alex Dowsett and Rasmus Christian were unable to hold the pace. In the final kilometres, Gustav Larsson followed by Richie and trio gained a point however, Porte launched an attack
and crossed the finish line ahead of the other riders.
Sky Sports’ Director Marcus Ljungqvist said, "He'd been going really good of course but with the leader's jersey on your shoulders you tend to get some morale from that and he went faster. So together with great shape and good legs he pulled it off. It was
a really nice one.”
Martin Pedersen (Leopard Trek) took the mountain classification 40 points ahead of Michael Reihs and Lasse Bochmann. Martin Mortensen took the title of most aggressive rider standing ahead of Lasse Bochmann.
Gerrans took the overall standing with the timing of 15 hours, 44 minutes and 13 seconds. Daniele Bennati was runner-up with 8 seconds and Michael Morkov finished third 26 seconds ahead of Australian.
The next stage will start in Hillerod and end in Frederiksberg. All the cyclists will cover the distance of 162.4 kilometres.
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