Leader Geraint Thomas still has big hill to climb

TOUR Down Under leader Geraint Thomas has forecast a showdown tomorrow on Old Willunga Hill to decide the winner of the ochre jersey.

Reece Homfray

2 min read

January 25, 2013 - 12:00AM

TOUR Down Under leader Geraint Thomas has forecast a showdown tomorrow on Old Willunga Hill to decide the winner of the ochre jersey.

The Team Sky star sprinted to fourth place behind winner Tom Slagter on Stage 3 yesterday, which maintained his five-second overall tour lead.

Slagter sits second overall while Javier Moreno is third at six seconds, followed by Ben Hermans at eight seconds and Daniele Pietropolli at 15.

Thomas expects a bunch sprint finish on Stage 4 in Tanunda today, meaning the battle for this year's title will be played out on Adelaide's most feared climb tomorrow.

"Tomorrow (Friday) should be a bunch sprint so it will all come down to Willunga and a big test," Thomas said. "He's (Slagter) climbing well. He ran well yesterday and today he had a good kick in him at the end so, for sure, he's a threat.

"But RadioShack still have three guys up there, Movistar, it's WorldTour so there's not just one guy you've got to look out for.

"I think it's just a matter of going up Willunga as fast as I can."

Thomas paid tribute to his teammates, who worked hard on the front of the peloton to reel in a dangerous breakaway containing Simon Clarke from Orica-GreenEDGE and Argos-Shimano's Will Clarke yesterday.

"The boys were strong and I think we were always in control, but we definitely got tested.

"A lot of guys were attacking us and it just shows that it's an important race to everyone," he said.

"The boys were tremendous really and I can't thank them enough, but it was down to me at the end to get a podium finish and a couple of bonus seconds but I didn't quite do that.

"But we've still got the jersey and that's the main thing."

Australian Matt Goss sprinted to second place on the stage after his team, Orica-GreenEDGE, abandoned its plan to target the general classification following Simon Gerrans' tough day on Wednesday.

Goss had to be urged on by his teammates on the final lap around Stirling but said his sprint gave him confidence.

"I didn't feel 100 per cent and the boys gave me a lot of motivation on the last lap to hang in there and keep going," he said.

"This is great for the start of the season compared to last year. I'm feeling twice the bike rider that I was then and it's great to get a top-three at a finish like this."

Saxo Bank rider Tim Duggan was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone after a crash late in the stage.

STAGE 3 RESULTS

1. Tom Jelte Slagter (NED/BLA) 3hr 36min 46 sec

2. Matthew Goss (AUS/OGE) s.t.

3. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/BMC) s.t.

4. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) s.t.

5. Giovanni Visconti (ITA/MOV) s.t.

6. Javier Moreno (ESP/MOV) s.t.

7. Simone Ponzi (ITA/AST) s.t.

8. Daniele Pietropolli (ITA/LAM) s.t.

9. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/BMC) s.t.

10. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/EUS) s.t.