Plenty has been said of the breakout performances of previous stage winners Matt Goss and Ben Swift along with high finishers like Andre Greipel, but has anyone ever once thought of Michael Matthews? Well, maybe they should start. The 2010 U23 champion in Geelong absolutely turned on the hyperjets and simply pulled away from the likes of Greipel and Goss with one swift acceleration.This kid, only 20, has the potential to really be something special in the future and if he's taking on fields as strong as this already than Graeme Brown better watch his job.
But why did Matthews get the nod?
Well, Brown actually ran into some trouble in the final 20 k and he took a bit of a spill. He was able to recover at least well enough to get back on the end of the peloton but after a recovery like that he probably just didn't have anything left for the sprint, hence Matthews getting Rabo's spot as top sprinter.
But for a while nobody was sure whether or not there would even be a sprint. Breakaways had been the story of the day starting with a 4 man move in the morning to a series of attacks on the final climb to the finishing stretch. Perhaps the most dangerous (and nearly successful) of these attacks was the one launched near the end by Richie Porte and Ben Hermans. Those 2 are strong riders and could have very well escaped had it not been for some solid work done by Lotto at the front of the peloton.
(another photo of Matthews above.)Ok, so after Radioshack pretty much controlled the field all day the job fell to HTC and Lotto but HTC had to cut their chasing support in half once Goss flatted very late in the race. The fact that Matt Goss was able to recover and finish 3rd is just a testament to what form he is in right now and how strong the team is surrounding him. Bernard Eisel buried himself on the final ascent in order to place Goss back into the field and then he somehow worked his way close enough to the front in order to launch a sprint.
Goss will be rewarded for his efforts tomorrow while wearing the ochre jersey.
So that brings up the question of what happened to McEwen. He also had mechanical problems fairly late (not nearly as late as Goss) but he did rejoin the peloton afterwards. But after working that hard to get back in it one has to wonder if he had anything left and just dropped off the back to save up for a potential go at a stage later in the week. I believe Armstrong also finished with him.
And Cav?
Well he just about had enough after being questionable as to whether or not he was even going to start the stage. He dropped off the back as soon as the race started to get a bit difficult and finished significantly later than the field. Not sure whether or not he will be back tomorrow. And to be honest it might work out better for him if he takes some time off to rest up.
Well the sprinters (or at least most of them) stole this one away from the breakaways. Tim Roe tried his luck for the 2nd straight day and Mitch Docker also exhibited some strong riding among others.
So the stage results were:1. Michael Matthews
2. Andre Greipel
3. Matt Goss
As the GC:
1. Matt Goss
2. Andre Greipel
3. Michael Matthews *
Here's another snapshot of my twitterfeed as the stage came to a close.
-Gap inched down to 1:13 #TDU
-There will be attacks at the end of this one. I can almost guarentee it. #TDU
-HTC machine is now pacing the field. I guess they are confident for a sprint #TDU (unless they have something else up their sleeve)
-There goes Bobridge! No surprise here, although I expected him to wait a bit longer #TDU
-I'm hearing Graeme Brown has crashed #TDU
-Trouble for McEwen #TDU
-Cardoso and Selvaggi have been caught. Grupo Compacto for now #TDU
-Durbridge is the most aggressive rider today #TDU
-Goss with a mechanical #TDU HTC in scramble mode now
-This will seriously disrupt their control over the front and probably prompt even more attacks off the front once they hit the hill #TDU
-Guess who is controlling the peloton right now? Yep, it's Lotto #TDU Meanwhile Goss is close to catching up
-I think Gossy is ok right now. Still has an effect on the HTC machine #TDU
-I wonder if the riders will carry spare tires for stage 4 tomorrow? #TDU
-Rumor has it that Cav has been dropped #TDU
-There is a breakaway off the front. i think it's 4 riders #TDU
-Ben Hermans and Aitor Arrieta are 2 of them. Richie Porte also involved #TDU
-It's Porte and Hermans. But they aren't far from being caught #TDU
-ALL TOGETHER NOW IS THE WORD #TDU
-Here we go! #TDU
-Bunchie! #TDU
-MATTHEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greipel 2nd #TDU
-U23 Champ from Geelong has absolutely smoked Greipel to the line! But Greipel may still be in ochre... #TDU
-Goss may have been third. He was up towards the front. No word on McEwen's whereabouts #TDU
-I do believe that McEwen was dropped so either Greipel or Goss will be in ochre tomorrow. #TDU
-Goss was indeed 3rd. He should be in ochre tomorrow #TDU
-Lotto worked very hard today for Greipel but HUGE props to Eisel and HTC for bringing Goss back after that flat #TDU
-Matthews won on a completely amazing individual effort at the end. Graeme Brown has some competition later in the year #TDU
-No sign of Cavendish yet #TDU
-This may be the nail in Cav's #TDU Why bang yourself up any more at this point?
-And just now has Cav made his way across the line in Stirling #TDU
-4 way tie for the points lead. #TDU Greipel and Goss included in that
-Matthews says this win "parallels" his U23 championship last
It's a bit more up and down. If there's ever a good time in this race for a breakaway to take the stage it's tomorrow but in all likelihood its the sprinters again.
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