Team Rabobank is striving hard for the top Santos Tour Down Under spot
Team Rabobank is trying hard to secure the top spot at the ongoing Santos Tour Down Under 2012. The team rode brilliantly throughout the first three days, with Michael Matthews and Mark Renshaw fully supported by their teammates.
The Dutch team was impressive with its tactics especially during the third day of the race.
The cooler cycling conditions and relatively shorter distance made it an ideal sprint finish at the Adelaide race.
The chase to Victor Harbour was perfectly planned by Team Rabobank, with at least one of its cyclists throughout at the front of the peloton.
Mark Renshaw is leading the Rabobank squad at Tour Down Under, while the former under 23 champion, Michael Matthews, is the team’s sprinter. Renshaw occupied the fourth spot during the third stage of the race.
He briefed, "With so many points on offer here at a ProTour race, and Michael a great chance to finish high up on GC at Willunga we have to go for the bonuses with him".
Renshaw commented on his young teammate after the third stage, "He's young, he's a really talented rider. He might need to get a bit of confidence in me. But I know we'll get it together".
Matthews finished the stage on the 12th position and also achieved the fourth spot at the young rider classification.
He is currently 12 seconds behind Andre Greipel after the stage 3 classifications and is a key podium contender for the Rabobank squad.
Michael is holding the third general classifications slot and is looking ahead at Martin Kohler, who is 4 seconds ahead of him at the second position. Thomas De Gendt and Simon Gerrans are at the fourth and fifth slots.
Renshaw is currently holding the 7th position at the Sprints Overall Classifications with 19 points to his credit.
Meanwhile, his teammate, Matthews, is one point behind at the 8th position and is also leading the Young Rider General classification at the Santos Tour.
Australian team, UNI SA is leading the Team’s General Classification with Sky Procycling, RadioShack-Nissan and Omega Pharma-Quick Step securing the second, third and fourth positions in the respective order.
Team Rabobank is at the 8th position after the stage 3 general classification and it is aiming to get its guts together during the coming stages of the Adelaide Race.
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