Stage 6 Lodi - San Giuliano 132.5km 1/5/06

The final stage of the Giro delle Regioni was a flat run that twisted it's way arount the south and east of Milan and ended in a bunch sprint in San Giuliano. There was very little action until the finish circuit which was six kilometers to be completed six times. The South Australia.com - AIS riders kept Simon Clarke out of trouble for him to comfortably finish the Tour in fourth place and keep his lead in the Under 21 classification. The stage was won by Italian, Oscar Gatto.

1 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Italy 2h44'59"
2 Aldino Ilesic (Slo) Slovenia @st
3 Michel Golas (Pol) Poland @st
4 Romain Feillu (Fra) France @st
5 Bolat Raimbekov (Kaz) Kazakstan @st
26 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
64 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @27"
75 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com  AIS @29"
94 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
103 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'22"

Final GC
1 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukrain National 20h51'28"
2 Maxim Belkov (Rus) Russia @39"
3 Jelle Vandendert (Bel) Belgium 54"
4 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'06"
5 Greca Bole (Slo) Slovenia @1'08"
24 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3'19"
48 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @7'26"
65 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @16'27"
82 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @32'06"

 Stage 5B Lodi – Lodi 11km

 The afternoon stage of the Giro delle Regioni was an eleven kilometer time trial in Lodi. The course started and finished on cobbles and included some small hills and some wind. Shaun Higgerson rode a strong time trial to run fifth while Simon Clarke improved his overall position to fourth by running tenth. World Under 23 Road Champion and Tour leader, Grabovskiy won the time trial. Simon leads the Under 21 classification.

1 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukraine National 13'05"
2 Ian Stanard (Gbr) Great Britain @9"
3 Andre Steensen (Den) Denmark @30"
4 Maxim Belkov (Rus) Russia @36"
5 Shaun Higgerson(Aus) South Australia.com AIS @38"
10 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @49"
35 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'18"
63 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'52"
74 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'15

GC after stage 5b
1 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukrain National 18h06'29"
2 Maxim Belkov (Rus) Russia @39"
3 Jelle Vandendert (Bel) Belgium @54"
4 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'06"
5 Greca Bole (Slo) Slovenia @1'08"
24 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'50"
45 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @6'04"
64 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus!) South Australia.com AIS @15'58"
81 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @13'39"

Stage 5A Casalpusterlengo - Lodi 115.6 km 30/4/06

Today's stage of the Giro delle Regioni was made up of two half stages. The morning stage was a flat 115 kilometer race from Casalpusterlengo to Lodi. The only difficulties were a short one kilometer pinch, cross winds and a high pace. The average for the stage was 44.975kph. There was not much to report from the South Australia.com AIS team. They rode with their usual excellent team work and conserved as much as possible for the afternoon time trial.

1 Aldoino Ilesic (Slo) Slovenai 2h34'13"

2 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Italy @st

3 Romain Feillu (Fra) France @st

4 Bolat Raimbekov (Kaz) Kazakstan @st

5 Michal Golas (Pol) Poland @st

27 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3"

38 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

80 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

82 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

101 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

GC after stage 5a

1 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukrain National 17h53'24"

2 Maxim Belkov (Russia) @3"

3 Jelle Vandendert (Bel) Belgium @7"

4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Belgium@17"

5 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

25 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'32"

47 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @5'26"

65 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @13'43"

83 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @29'45"

 Stage 3 Orvieto - Spoleto 152.9 km 28/4/06

Yesterday's stage three of the Giro delle Regioni had it's highs and lows for the South Australia.com AIS team. On the positive side Simon Clarke finished 5th and maintained his fourth place overall. The down side was Dan McConnell fell victim to the tricky, wet conditions on the last descent and crashed in the final four kilometers while in the front group. Matt Goss experienced some knee pain and I decided that he should withdraw from the Tour today rather than risk injury. The course consisted of some tough hills early and another tough one with a descent to the finish. Wes Sulzberger had an aggressive day going away in a group of three at about 40 kilometers and was caught 90 kilometers later at the base of the final climb, with 20 kilometers from the finish. The stage was won by Tour Leader and World Under 23 champion, Dymytriy Grabovskiy.

 
1 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukraine 3.51.05
2 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Belgium
3 Anders Lund (Den) Denmark @ 0.17
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Belgium
5 Simon Clarke (Aus) Australia
31 Daniel Mc Connell (Aus) @ 1.25
60 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) Australia @ 2.14
69 Wesley Sultzberger (Aus) Australia @ 3.12
93 Matthew Goss (Aus) Australia @ 13.29
111 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) Australia @ 13.37

Stage 2 Guidonia Montecelio – Guidonia Montecelio 167.8km 27/4/06

Today's second stage of the Giro delle Regioni took the riders over a tough, hilly course and though some adverse weather. The South Australia.com AIS riders again rode an exceptional team race and although lost the lead in the tour, are still in a very competitive position. Simon Clarke was in a break of there riders for about half the stage and was caught in the last 15 kilometers by another four riders including current World Under 23 World Champion and stage winner, Dymytriy Grabovski. Simon finished fourth and holds that position overall. He also leads the Under 21 competition.

1 Dymytriy Grabovski (Ukr) Ukrain National 4h15'26"

2 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) Belgium National @st

3 Mickael Laro (Fra) French National @st

4 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

5 Maxim Belkov (Rus) @ Russian National @st

11 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @7"

28 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS. @st

41 Dan McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

55 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @44"

81 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3'12"

GC after stage 2

1 Dymytriy Grabovski (Ukr) Ukrain National 4h15'26"

2 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) Belgium National @st

3 Mickael Laro (Fra) French National @st

4 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

5 Maxim Belkov (Rus) @ Russian National @st

8 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @7"

29 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

37 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

54 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @44"

69 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3 12"

Stage 1 Cassino – Fiuggi 107.5km 26/4/06

Stage 1 of the Giro delle Regioni was run and won today and the winner was again Matt Goss. The South Australia.com - AIS teamwork was again, exceptional. Matt won from a bunch sprint of 90 riders after his break away group of four riders was caught in the last 500 meters from the finish. There was not a move in the last 20 kilometers that was not covered by the Australians. The course was undulating with a catergory 3 and a catergory 2 climb coming in the last 30 kilometers of the 107 kilometer stage. The rest of our team were all in the front group at the finish.

1 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS 2h37'50"

2 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Italian Nat @st

3 Anders Lund (Den) Danish Nat @st

4 Dymytriy Grabovskiy (Ukr) Ukrain Nat @st

5 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) Belgian Nat @st

25 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @ st

34 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

44 Shaun Higgerson( Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

50 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st