Damien Howson's 120km ride to friendship with Philippe Gilbert

PHILIPPE Gilbert must have wondered who the fresh-faced Adelaide kid on his wheel was when he turned around and realised the two were alone on the road to Tanunda.

PHILIPPE Gilbert must have wondered who the fresh-faced Adelaide kid on his wheel was when he turned around and realised the two were alone on the road to Tanunda.

Cycling's world champion attacked the peloton at the start of yesterday's Stage 4 and had UniSA-Australia rider Damien Howson for company for 120km before they were caught by the peloton just before the finish.

It was the most unlikely pairing - a superstar of the sport and a young gun yet to even turn professional on the roads through the Barossa Valley. Speaking after the stage, Gilbert appeared as though he was yet to know the name of his new Australian friend.

"We had a good ride today with  ... my friend over there," Gilbert said.

"I heard he is an Australian champion in time trial (under-23) and third in the world, he's a good talent.

"He's good because he had all the high cadence, it means that you're strong when you can ride like this."

Gilbert certainly knew Howson's name soon after when he took to Twitter .

"@DamienHowson good ride mate! Enjoy your rest now," Gilbert wrote.

Their joint effort was recognised when they were both awarded the most competitive rider jersey yesterday.

"Kilometre zero Gilbert hit it and I was on the wheel, a gap opened up and we knew it was going to be a long day ahead of us," Howson said.

"It was a huge honour and a thrill, not just Phil Gilbert the rider and idol that I look up to, he's also the current world champion so to have that combination in one person in a break with you, it's a bit of a dream, really."

Even so, Howson said he still did some wheeling and dealing with Gilbert on the road.

"We were talking about who wanted the (mountain) points and he wasn't chasing it," Howson said.

"So I just rode the last 500m to take the KOM (over Humbug Scrub) and I think through the sprint premes he wanted them a bit more so we came to the agreement we wouldn't compete.

"He made a few jokes out there and obviously his experience and advice he was able to give me during the day was a big help as well as all the people on the side of the road."

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1. GREIPEL, A (GER) Lotto Belisol 3:02:52
2. FERRARI, R (ITA) Lampre-Merida st
3. CANTWELL, J (AUS) Saxo-Tinkoff st
4. FENN, A** (GBR) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step st
5. MARKUS, B** (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM st
6. KITTEL, M (GER) Argos-Shimano st
7. RENSHAW, M (AUS) Blanco st
8. van HUMMEL, K (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM st
9. DEMARE, A** (FRA) FDJ st
10. LODEWYCK, K (BEL) BMC st

Europcar Most Competitive Rider

GILBERT, P (BEL)BMC
HOWSON, D** (AUS)UNI SA - Australia

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. THOMAS, G (GBR)Sky Procycling 12:59:09
2. SLAGTER, T** (NED)Blanco 0:05
3. MORENO BAZAN, J (ESP)Movistar 0:06
4. HERMANS, B (BEL)Radioshack Leopard 0:08
5. IZAGIRRE, G (ESP)Euskaltel Euskadi 0:15
6. IZAGIRRE, I** (ESP)Euskaltel Euskadi st
7. BAUER, J (NZL)Garmin Sharp st
8. MACHADO, T (POR)Radioshack Leopard st
9. HANSEN, A (AUS)Lotto Belisol st
10. BENNETT, G** (NZL)Radioshack Leopard st

Skoda King of the Mountain

1. BOBRIDGE, J** (AUS)Blanco 20 points
2. THOMAS, G (GBR)Sky Procycling 16 points
3. MORENO BAZAN, J (ESP)Movistar 14 points

Jayco Sprint

1. GREIPEL, A (GER)Lotto Belisol 30 points
2. THOMAS, G (GBR)Sky Procycling 29 points
3. GILBERT, P (BEL)BMC 28 points

Cycle Instead Young Rider

1. SLAGTER, T** (NED)Blanco 12:59:14
2. IZAGIRRE, I** (ESP)Euskaltel Euskadi 0:10
3. BENNETT, G** (NZL)Radioshack Leopard st

Hindmarsh Winning Team Jersey

1. Radioshack Leopard 38:58:09
2. Movistar 1:22
3. Lotto Belisol 1:52