Aussie Gerrans Wins Tour of Denmark

Simon Gerrans has continued the good run for Australian cyclists by winning the Tour of Denmark.

The win was extra special for Gerrans as the Tour of Denmark was one of the events won by Australian cycling pioneer Phil Anderson, who won the event in 1988 and now coaches Gerrans.

“Not only is this my first stage race win in Europe, but it’s also the first of Phil’s race wins I’ve been able to replicate. It’s a huge thrill to stand on the top step of the podium in a European stage race,” Gerrans said.

“Today’s final stage panned out perfectly for us. Leopard Trek controlled the peloton for the first sprint with the goal to reduce back my advantage, but it was a huge blow to their confidence when I out sprinted Daniele Bennati to extend my overall lead.

“My teammates did a fantastic job throughout the whole stage controlling the peloton and making sure I was well protected.”

The Tour of Denmark is a five stage race, and after Gerrans claimed the yellow leader’s jersey at the end of stage three, he was always going to be hard to beat.

He then secured his lead through an excellent time trial that saw him finish just seconds behind the eventual time trial winner, Australia’s Richie Porte.

Gerrans team, Team Sky, also took out the team classification after Alex Dowsett finished fifth and Dario Cioni, finished sixth.

Gerrans, who was the first ever Australian to win a stage at each of the three Grand Tours, will race next in the Grand Prix Plouay, which is a one day event that he managed to win back in 2009.

In other cycling news, Australia has moved a step closer to having a team in next year’s Tour de France after the GreenEDGE team, which is seeking to enter competition next year, signed up three promising young Australian cyclists.

Jack Bobridge, Cameron Meyer and Travis Meyer have all committed to making the switch from the Garmin-Cervelo team.

Travis Meyer won the 2010 Australian National Road Race Championship, while his older brother Cameron took out the Tour Down Under last year.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Garmin-Cervelo but joining GreenEDGE gives me the best support possible to chase my dreams of becoming one of the leading road riders in the world along with the possibility if riding at the Olympic Games,” said Cameron Meyer.

“Up until now I have focused my efforts on being the best track cycler in the world, and I have been satisfied with my achievements so far. However, the next phase of my cycling career will see my attention turn to developing as top road rider in Europe.”

Australians Stuart O’Grady and Robbie McEwen have been linked to the new road cycling team, as has ‘The Missile’ Mark Cavendish, who is currently without a team after HTC Highroad disbanded.

Mark Renshaw, Matt Goss and Leigh Howard are expected to sign for GreenEDGE in the coming days following the news that HTC Highroad would no longer be competing on the European road racing circuit.

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