Stage 5 Streufdorf – Waltershausen 141km 15-5-06

The last stage of the Thüringen Rundfahrt turned out to be a turning point in the race. Although the weather was fine at the start, by the time the riders hit the tough part of the course in the final 60 kilometres the heavens opened, the temperature dropped and the race went out of the Rabobank team’s control. South Australia.com – AIS rider, Matt Goss, joined the group with Will Walker and his team mate Dmitriy Kozontchuk and tried to help close the gap to eventual tour winner, Tony Martin from the Thuerningen Team. He eventually ran seventh while team mate, Simon Clarke, moved to ninth overall.

Stage Results 

1 Edvaid Boassen Hagen (Nor) Maxbo Bianchi 3h34’26”
2 Markus Eibegger (Aus) Austria @34”
3 Alexander Gottfreid (Ger) Sparkasse @st
7 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @1’52”
20 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @2’53”
23 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @st
40 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @3’37”
66 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @15’31”
74 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @ 15’41” 

Final GC

1 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy 18h35’07”
2 Will Walker (Aus) Rabobank @51”
3 Edvaid Boassen Hagen (Nor) Maxbo Bianchi @57”
9 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @4’15”
19 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @10’21”
41 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @24’33”
52 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @35’14”
57 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @39’10”
65 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com – AIS @48’40”

Stage 4 Ilmenau - Streufdorf 149.5km 13-5-06

The South Australia.com - AIS team combined to control the last 20 kilometres of today's stage to ensure a bunch sprint but Matt Goss was beaten into second place by Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, Mark Cavendish.

1 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Sparkasse 3h38'30"
2 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
3 Sebastian Schwager (Ger) Thüringen Energy @st
21 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Aouth Australia.com AIS @st
58 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
59 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
79 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
81 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'09"

GC after st 4

1 Will Walker (Aus) Rabobank 14h59'17"
2 Dymitrit Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank @46"
3 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy @49"
10 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'46"
30 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com  AIS @9'56"
47 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com   AIS @22'20"
53 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com   AIS @29'03"
66 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com   AIS @33'45"
67 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com   AIS @34'23"

Stage 3a Individual time trial Meiningen 15.6km 12-5-06

The South Australia.com AIS boys rode strong time trials this morning with Shaun Higgerson placing 5th, Simon Clarke 13th and Matthew Goss 16th. The win went to Lars Boom with Will Walker taking second and defending his Tour lead.

1 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank 18'45"936
2 Edvaid Boasson Hagen (Nor) Maxbo Bianchi @8"
3 Will Walker (Aus) Rabobank @14"
5 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS 51"
13 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @51"
16 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'02"
86 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3'19"
87 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3'25"
88 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @3'37"

Stage 3BRund um Meiningen 90.3km 12-5-06

The short afternoon stage began with a flurry of attacks with Rabobank controlling the bunch. One group of seven, including South Australia.com AISs Dan McConnell went clear and stayed away untill the finish. Dan tryed a late attack but was caught and ran seventh. The win went to Soren Hofmann from team Aguti.

1 Soren Hofmann (Ger) Aguti 2h09'42"
2 Simon Geshke (Ger) KED Bianchi @st
3 Martin Mortensen (Den) Denmark @st
7 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
22 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @1'10"
23 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
24 Matthes Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
65 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
66 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

GC after st 3b

1 Will Walker (Aus) Rabobank 11h20'47"
2 Dymitrit Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank @47"
3 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy @49"
10 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'46"
30 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'46"
50 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @22'20"
57 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @25'03"
72 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @33'14"
74 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @33'37"

 Stage 2 Bad Berka - Ilmenau 172.8km 11-5-06

Today's stage of the Thüringen Rundfahrt was the over the toughest terain of the tour and was the longest. You wouldn't have guesed it by the pace of the first part of the stage. The South Australia.com AIS were in everything but were caught out when a decisive break went with 50 kilometres remaining. Rabobank was ready and three riders, including Aussie, Will Walker, represented them in the break.

His team mate, Dmitriy Kozontchuk, went on to win the stage and Will took over the tour lead. Simon Clarke ran 9th and moves to 8th overall.

1 Dmitriy Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank 4h41'31"
2 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank @st
3 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Austria @43"
9 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @2'03"
31 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @9'08"
55 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @20'18"
65 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @21'52"
95 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @29'45"
96 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @st

GC after stage 2

1 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank 8h50'56"
2 Dmitriy Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank @17"
3 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy @17"
8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'09"
31 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @9'14"
52 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @21'58"
57 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @22'12"
64 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @29'51"
84 Dan McConnell (Ais) South Australia.com - AIS @31'19"

Stage 1 Waltershausen - Bad Berka 158.8km 10-5-05

The first stage of the Thüringen Tour was over 150 kilometres of undulating, windy country. The race pace was hot and cold for most of the day. In a fast last 20 kilometres a group of three got clear and stayed away to win the stage. South Australia.com - AIS tour leader, Matt Goss was sixth on the stage and slipped from being leader to fifth overall.

1 Edvaid Boasson Hagen (Nor) Maxbo Bianchi 4h04'10"
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy @1"
3 Raphael Nick (Swi) Switzerland @3"
6 Matthes Goss (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @15"
16 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @st
38 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @st
72 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @23"
86 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @2'01"
87 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @ st

GC after stage 1

1 Edvaid Boasson Hagen (Nor) Maxbo Bianchi 4h09'16"
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Thüringen Energy @9"
3 Raphael Nick (Swi) Switzerland @14"
5 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS @15"
7 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
9 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st
17 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @23"
87 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @2'03"
88 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @st

 Prologue 4.2km Waltershousen 

The South Australia.com AIS team won the prologue today, of the Thüringen Rundfahrt in Germany. It was a 4.2 kilometre teams time trial

The South Australia.com AIS team in winning action at the Thüringen Rundfahrt. Photo: David Hayes

The first stage is tomorrow and the tour finishes next Sunday.