2010 Tour Down Under#Stage 1

{{Short description|12th edition of the Tour Down Under cycling stage race}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 2010 Tour Down Under

| series = 2010 UCI World Ranking

| race_no = 1

| season_no = 26

| image =

| image_caption =

| date = 19–24 January 2010

| stages = 6

| distance = 794

| unit = km

| time = 18 h 47 min 05 s

| speed = 42.272

| first = André Greipel

| first_nat = GER

| first_team = {{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

| first_color = orange

| second = Luis León Sánchez

| second_nat = ESP

| second_team = {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

| third = Greg Henderson

| third_nat = NZL

| third_team = {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

| sprints = André Greipel

| sprints_nat = GER

| sprints_team = {{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

| sprints_color = blue

| mountains = Thomas Rohregger

| mountains_nat = AUT

| mountains_team = {{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

| mountains_color = white

| youth = Jürgen Roelandts

| youth_nat = BEL

| youth_team = {{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

| youth_color = black

| team = {{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}

| team_color = blue

| previous = 2009

| next = 2011

}}

The 2010 Tour Down Under was the 12th edition of the Tour Down Under cycling stage race. It was held from 19 to 24 January 2010 in and around Adelaide, South Australia. It was the first event in the 2010 UCI World Calendar. The race was won by André Greipel of {{UCI team code|THR|2010}} after he won the sprint finishes to three of the race's stages.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8477377.stm|title=André Greipel holds off Team Sky to win Tour Down Under |date=2010-01-24|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2010-01-28| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100127203956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8477377.stm| archivedate= 27 January 2010 | url-status= live}}

Overall favourites

As the Tour Down Under has historically been a race which favours sprinters winning the overall classification, several sprinters were tabbed as favourites for victory in the 2010 Tour. These included defending champion Allan Davis, now with {{UCI team code|AST|2010}}, Gert Steegmans of {{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}, Baden Cooke of {{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}, Greg Henderson from {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}, and 2008 champion André Greipel from {{UCI team code|THR|2010}}.{{cite web

|author=Greg Johnson

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-down-under-10-riders-who-could-take-the-title

|title=Tour Down Under: 10 riders who could take the title

|date=2010-01-15

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate=2010-01-14

| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100118120611/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-down-under-10-riders-who-could-take-the-title| archivedate= 18 January 2010 | url-status= live}} Greipel specifically shied away from talk of him being a favourite for victory.{{cite web

|author=Greg Johnson

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greipel-im-not-favourite-for-tdu

|title=Greipel: I’m not favourite for TDU

|date=2010-01-17

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate=2010-01-18

| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100120083701/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greipel-im-not-favourite-for-tdu| archivedate= 20 January 2010 | url-status= live}} Additionally, {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}} was noted to be bringing a strong squad, including reigning Vuelta a España champion Alejandro Valverde. Valverde's presence was speculated to increase the chances for 2005 Tour Down Under champion Luis León Sánchez, who is riding a program in 2010 meant to lead to victory in Paris–Nice.{{cite web

|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/6882/Valverde-to-lead-Caisse-d-Epargne-at-Tour-Down-Under

|title=Valverde to lead Caisse d'Epargne at Tour Down Under

|date=2009-12-17

|work=Cycling Central

|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service

|accessdate=2010-01-14

| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100118163220/http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/6882/Valverde-to-lead-Caisse-d-Epargne-at-Tour-Down-Under| archivedate= 18 January 2010 | url-status= live}} Along with Sánchez, Cooke's teammate Stuart O'Grady, Martin Elmiger from {{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}, Wesley Sulzberger of {{UCI team code|FDJ|2010}}, and {{UCI team code|GRM|2010}} rider Robbie Hunter were also named as contenders. The race also featured reigning World Road Race Champion Cadel Evans and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong; they were not, however, considered to be contenders in the race as they would focus on later events in the 2010 season.

Participating teams

As the Tour Down Under is a UCI ProTour event, all ProTour teams were invited automatically and obligated to send a squad. Thus, the event was the debut for the new ProTour entries {{UCI team code|RSH|2010}} and {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}. Additionally, the Australian national team known as UniSA–Australia competed in the event. {{UCI team code|BMC|2010}} also attended, as the first UCI Professional Continental team ever to be granted a wild card. This was likely to allow new world champion Cadel Evans to ride with the rainbow jersey in his home nation.{{cite news

|agency=Agence France-Presse

|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cadel-evans-confirms-tour-down-under-start-24333

|title=Cadel Evans confirms Tour Down Under start

|date=2009-12-12

|publisher=BikeRadar

|accessdate=2009-12-27

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216012216/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cadel-evans-confirms-tour-down-under-start-24333

|archivedate=16 December 2009

|url-status=dead

}}

The teams participating in the race were:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

  • {{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|AST|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|EUS|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|FDJ|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|QST|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|SIL|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|THR|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}
  • {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}
  • UniSA–Australia

{{div col end}}

Tour stages

= Stage 1 =

;19 January 2010 – Clare to Tanunda, {{convert|141|km|abbr=on}}

The first stage had a sloping profile, with a point-awarding climb coming up Menglers Hill Road at the {{convert|114|km|abbr=on}} mark. The final {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} were totally flat.{{cite web

|url = http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-1

|title = Stage 1

|publisher = Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate = 2009-12-27

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112003429/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-1

|archivedate = 2009-11-12

|url-status = dead

}}

The first UCI ProTour race of the season began with a crash. About {{convert|300|m|abbr=on}} after the true beginning of the stage, a {{UCI team code|EUS|2010}} rider crashed in the middle of the peloton and brought half the group down with him. Among the riders caught up was Cadel Evans, riding with the rainbow jersey in his home nation for the first time. The world champion had to have his shoes attached to his bicycle with electrical tape to continue the stage.

Timothy Roe, Martin Kohler, and Blel Kadri formed the day's significant breakaway, coming clear of the peloton after {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}}. They were away through the day's intermediate sprint, and Roe was able to claim the Mengler Hill climb, putting three of the four major jerseys on these riders' shoulders at day's end. In the last {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}}, a driving {{UCI team code|THR|2010}}, led by time trial specialist Bert Grabsch, absorbed all of them back into the peloton. Roe had also crashed while descending Mengler Hill. The group sprint finish was won by HTC-Columbia rider André Greipel.

Defending champion Allan Davis all but lost any chance to repeat as Tour champion. His team {{UCI team code|AST|2010}} had come to the race without radios, and therefore his teammates did not know that he was not with the main group during the Mengler Hill climb. Unaware, the Astana team pulled the peloton away from Davis, who finished in the second large group, 8'22" back.{{cite web

|author = Greg Johnson and Les Clarke

|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-1/results

|title = Greipel grabs number one in Tanunda

|date = 2010-01-19

|work = Cycling News

|publisher = Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate = 2010-01-20

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100122020854/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-1/results

|archivedate = 2010-01-22

|url-status = dead

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 1 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 15' 30"

2

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

3

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|SIL|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

4

|{{flagathlete|Danilo Wyss|SUI}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

6

|{{flagathlete|Baden Cooke|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|José Joaquín Rojas|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

10

|{{flagathlete|Valeriy Dmitriyev|KAZ}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

General Classification after Stage 1

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 15' 20"

2

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| + 4"

3

|{{flagathlete|Martin Kohler|SUI}} Image:Jersey blue.svg Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 4"

4

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|SIL|2010}}

|align=right| + 6"

5

|{{flagathlete|Blel Kadri|FRA}}

|{{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}

|align=right| + 6"

6

|{{flagathlete|Timothy Roe|AUS}} Image:Jersey white.svg Image:Jersey red.svg

|UniSA–Australia

|align=right| + 8"

7

|{{flagathlete|Danilo Wyss|SUI}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 10"

8

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 10"

9

|{{flagathlete|Baden Cooke|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}

|align=right| + 10"

10

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| + 10"

{{Col-end}}

= Stage 2 =

;20 January 2010 – Gawler to Hahndorf, {{convert|133|km|abbr=on}}

File:Delage and Kaisen, Checker Hill, TDU 2010 Stage 2.JPG and Olivier Kaisen of {{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}.]]

After climbing a few hundred meters in the first {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}}, this stage was mostly flat. There was, as with all stages, a categorized climb, up Checker Hill Road {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} in.{{cite web

|url = http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-2

|title = Stage 2

|publisher = Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate = 2009-12-27

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112002858/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-2

|archivedate = 2009-11-12

|url-status = dead

}}

This stage was mostly similar to the first one. {{UCI team code|OLO|2010}} teammates Mickaël Delage and Olivier Kaisen formed the day's breakaway with UniSA–Australia rider David Kemp. Euskaltel-Euskadi, Team Milram, and Team Saxo Bank tried to send riders to follow, but the peloton did not allow them to get away. Kemp allowed the Omega Pharma-Lotto riders to take the two intermediate sprints so that he would be allowed maximum points on the Checker Hill climb, allowing his teammate Timothy Roe to keep the white jersey. Kemp then tried to solo for the stage win, but Team Sky and Team HTC-Columbia chased him down, with race leader Greipel again coming away with a stage win. Minor controversy followed, as both Greg Henderson and Danilo Wyss accused other riders (namely Robbie McEwen and Graeme Brown) of poaching their leadouts and therefore causing them to lose finishing positions.

{{cite web

|author=Greg Johnson

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-2/results

|title=Two's a treat for Greipel

|date=2010-01-20

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate=2010-01-20

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122021005/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-2/results

|archivedate=22 January 2010

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 2 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 23' 49"

2

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

3

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

4

|{{flagathlete|Robbie Hunter|RSA}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

6

|{{flagathlete|Allan Davis|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Danilo Wyss|SUI}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Luke Roberts|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|Baden Cooke|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

10

|{{flagathlete|José Joaquín Rojas|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

General Classification after Stage 2

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg Image:Jersey blue.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 6h 38' 59"

2

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 14"

3

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| + 14"

4

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 16"

5

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|SIL|2010}}

|align=right| + 16"

6

|{{flagathlete|Danilo Wyss|SUI}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

7

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

8

|{{flagathlete|Baden Cooke|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

9

|{{flagathlete|Robbie Hunter|RSA}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

10

|{{flagathlete|José Joaquín Rojas|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

{{Col-end}}

= Stage 3 =

;21 January 2010 – Unley to Stirling, {{convert|132.5|km|1|abbr=on}}

This stage contained the Tour's most difficult climb to this point, Wickhams Hill Road, which came just before the {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} mark. Afterward, the course remained at approximately the elevation reached after the climb, and undulated.{{cite web

|url = http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-3

|title = Stage 3

|publisher = Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate = 2009-12-27

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112002632/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-3

|archivedate = 2009-11-12

|url-status = dead

}}

File:Breakaway first lap, Stirling, TDU 2010 Stage 3.JPG, Simon Clarke, Jack Bobridge, Maciej Paterski, and Karsten Kroon, from left to right.]]

The temperature topped out at over {{convert|40|C}} on this day, which combined with the hilly terrain made the stage very difficult for some riders. A 40-rider group contested the final sprint finish, while half the peloton lost more than a minute and 13 riders lost more than ten minutes. The day's breakaway involved Simon Clarke of UniSA–Australia and Karsten Kroon from BMC Racing Team, who were joined at the {{convert|70|km|abbr=on}} mark by Maciej Paterski, Jens Voigt, and Jack Bobridge. {{UCI team code|GCE|2010|nolink=yes}} was the team who worked the hardest to chase them down, thinning the leading group to try to protect Alejandro Valverde, José Joaquín Rojas, or Luis León Sánchez for a stage-winning attack. Portuguese national champion Manuel Cardoso from {{UCI team code|FOT|2010}} broke out of the leading group within the final kilometer and took the stage win away from Valverde or Cadel Evans, who had seemed poised to contest a sprint with Valverde. After the stage, Valverde described holding Evans' wheel, and that a moment of hesitation when he was unsure if Evans was attacking for victory had cost him his chance of catching Cardoso. Cardoso's win was his first as a ProTour rider.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke and Greg Johnson

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greipel-im-not-favourite-for-tdu

|title=Cardoso claims Footon's first ProTour win

|date=2010-01-21

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate=2010-01-21

| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100120083701/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greipel-im-not-favourite-for-tdu| archivedate= 20 January 2010 | url-status= live}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 3 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|Manuel Cardoso|POR}}

|{{UCI team code|FOT|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 14' 38"

2

|{{flagathlete|Alejandro Valverde|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 1"

3

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

4

|{{flagathlete|Peter Sagan|SVK}}

|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|Mauro Finetto|ITA}}

|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

6

|{{flagathlete|Michael Rogers|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Luke Roberts|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Markus Fothen|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|Anthony Roux|FRA}}

|{{UCI team code|FDJ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

10

|{{flagathlete|Eduard Vorganov|RUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

General Classification after Stage 3

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg Image:Jersey blue.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 9h 53' 38"

2

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 14"

3

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| + 14"

4

|{{flagathlete|Alejandro Valverde|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 14"

5

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 16"

6

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

|align=right| + 16"

7

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 16"

8

|{{flagathlete|Andriy Hryvko|UKR}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| + 19"

9

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

10

|{{flagathlete|Robbie Hunter|RSA}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

{{Col-end}}

= Stage 4 =

;22 January 2010 – Norwood to Goolwa, {{convert|149.5|km|1|abbr=on}}

This stage began with climbing and ended at lower elevation. The climb up Fox Creek Road, visited after {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}, reached over {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} in elevation. After a long descent from that height {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} later, the last {{convert|70|km|abbr=on}} were completely flat.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-4

|title=Stage 4

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2009-12-27

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111234022/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-4

|archivedate=11 November 2009

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

Seven riders formed a breakaway group shortly after the true beginning of the stage. Among them were the top two men in the mountains classification, David Kemp and Thomas Rohregger, with Rohregger out-climbing Kemp to claim the white jersey at day's end. The group held a maximum advantage of 3'15", but the flat terrain and the strong crosswinds the group faced meant they stood no chance of staying away. Graeme Brown and Robbie McEwen started their sprints earlier than race leader André Greipel, but for the third time the big German was delivered safely first to the line by his leadout train. Greipel specifically mentioned new acquisition Matthew Goss as having been a key asset to him in the sprint.

{{cite web

|author=Greg Johnson and Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-4/results

|title=Greipel has the goods in Goolwa

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|date=2010-01-22

|accessdate=2010-01-26

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125151558/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-4/results

|archivedate=25 January 2010

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 4 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 30' 29"

2

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

3

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

4

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|Manuel Cardoso|POR}}

|{{UCI team code|FOT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

6

|{{flagathlete|Julian Dean|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Matthew Goss|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|Robert Förster|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

10

|{{flagathlete|Yauheni Hutarovich|BLR}}

|{{UCI team code|FDJ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

General Classification after Stage 4

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svg Image:Jersey blue.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 13h 23' 57"

2

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

3

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 24"

4

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| + 24"

5

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

6

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

7

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

8

|{{flagathlete|Andriy Hryvko|UKR}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| + 29"

9

|{{flagathlete|Robbie Hunter|RSA}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 30"

10

|{{flagathlete|Baden Cooke|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}

|align=right| + 30"

{{Col-end}}

= Stage 5 =

;23 January 2010 – Snapper Point to Willunga, {{convert|148|km|abbr=on}}

This was the Tour's most difficult stage, concluding with a two-lap circuit in Willunga that included two visits to the Old Willunga Hill Road, the hardest climb in the race due to its steepness.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-5

|title=Stage 5

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2009-12-27

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112002732/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-5

|archivedate=12 November 2009

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

Adelaide's Sunday Mail newspaper stated that this was "the most exciting day in Tour [Down Under] history".Sports Section, pp.41. Sunday Mail, 24 January 2010.

The stage was won by {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}'s Luis León Sánchez.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 1.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

After this grueling stage, André Greipel, with the help of his team, managed to keep both the ochre jersey

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 5.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

and the blue jersey.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 12.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

The young Belgian rider Jürgen Roelandts from {{UCI team code|OLO|2010}} still holds the black jersey.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 8.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

In the mountains classification, Thomas Rohregger of Team Milram held an insurmountable lead with 56 points.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 14.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

{{UCI team code|ALM|2010}} is the leading team, 2 seconds ahead of {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|title=All Classifications after Stage 5, pp 10.

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2010-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331074806/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/21817/STDUStage5ResultsALL.pdf

|archive-date=2010-03-31

|url-status=dead

}}

The principal breakaway of the day occurred on the second ascent of the Old Willunga Hill Road. It included two riders from {{UCI team code|GCE|2010}} in Alejandro Valverde and Luis León Sánchez, who had come to the race eager to earn victories. The other two riders were Peter Sagan from {{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}, who had figured into breakaways in previous stages and in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic earlier in the week, and Cadel Evans. With {{convert|4|km|abbr=on}} left to race, the four had a lead of 31 seconds, which potentially put Evans in position to take the race lead away from André Greipel. During the final few minutes of the stage, Greipel's teammates Hayden Roulston, Michael Rogers, and Matthew Goss pulled the peloton hard, so that they finished just 9 seconds behind stage winner Sánchez. While {{UCI team code|THR|2010}} pulled, the strain of the breakaway and the final meters of the climb took its toll on the other three members of the leading group, who fell off as Sánchez soloed to the finish line. Greipel's lead was reduced to 11 seconds, but with only a very short flat stage remaining, it was likely to be secure.

{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-5/results

|title=Sanchez sensational in thrilling finale

|date=2010-01-23

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate=2010-01-24

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126071157/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-5/results

|archivedate=26 January 2010

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 5 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|Luis León Sánchez|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| 3h 29' 39"

2

|{{flagathlete|Luke Roberts|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 2"

3

|{{flagathlete|Alejandro Valverde|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 4"

4

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|Peter Sagan|SVK}}

|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}

|align=right| + 6"

6

|{{flagathlete|Markus Fothen|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Sébastien Rosseler|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Cameron Meyer|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 9"

10

|{{flagathlete|Fabio Sabatini|ITA}}

|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

General Classification after Stage 5

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svgImage:Jersey blue.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 16h 53' 45"

2

|{{flagathlete|Luis León Sánchez|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 11"

3

|{{flagathlete|Luke Roberts|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 17"

4

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 20"

5

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 21"

6

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 24"

7

|{{flagathlete|Eduard Vorganov|RUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 25"

8

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

9

|{{flagathlete|Markus Fothen|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 27"

10

|{{flagathlete|Andriy Hryvko|UKR}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| + 29"

{{Col-end}}

= Stage 6 =

;24 January 2010 – Adelaide, {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}}

The Tour concluded with a criterium around the Adelaide City Council. The race was held on a closed road circuit {{convert|4.5|km|1|abbr=on}} in length.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-6

|title=Stage 6

|publisher=Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate=2009-12-27

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111235623/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/stage-6

|archivedate=11 November 2009

|url-status=dead

|df=dmy-all

}}

File:Greg Henderson and Chris Sutton, Team Sky - Stage 6, 2010 Tour Down Under.jpg and Greg Henderson, top two finishers in the Adelaide criterium.]]

Robbie McEwen and Greg Henderson formed a breakaway early in the criterium which gave them, respectively, the two intermediate sprints the stage offered. The bonus seconds that came with them propelled them both past Luke Roberts, who began the day in third place overall. Henderson was two seconds better than McEwen, and thus made it to the podium.

Later, Wesley Sulzberger, Trent Lowe, and Fabio Sabatini broke away to try for the stage win, riding the last five laps of the criterium ahead of the peloton, but {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}} brought them back before the finish. As they had in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic earlier in the week, the new British team took the top two finishing positions in this stage, with Christopher Sutton ahead of Henderson this time. Though it was his worst performance in a sprint finish in this Tour, in fifth place, André Greipel still emerged as Tour champion.{{cite web

|author = Les Clarke and Greg Johnson

|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-6/results

|title = Sutton secures Sky's second

|date = 2010-01-24

|work = Cycling News

|publisher = Future Publishing Limited

|accessdate = 2010-01-24

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100126082628/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-6/results

|archivedate = 2010-01-26

|url-status = dead

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Stage 6 Result

class="wikitable"
!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|Christopher Sutton|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| 1h 53' 20"

2

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

3

|{{flagathlete|Graeme Brown|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

4

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

5

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}}Image:Jersey orange.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

6

|{{flagathlete|Allan Davis|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|AST|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

7

|{{flagathlete|Matthew Goss|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

8

|{{flagathlete|Yauheni Hutarovich|BLR}}

|{{UCI team code|FDJ|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

9

|{{flagathlete|Gert Steegmans|BEL}}

|{{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

10

|{{flagathlete|Anthony Ravard|FRA}}

|{{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}

|align=right| s.t.

{{Col-2}}

Final General Classification

class="wikitable"

!

!Cyclist

!Team

!Time

1

|{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} Image:Jersey orange.svgImage:Jersey blue.svg

|{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}

|align=right| 18h 47' 05"

2

|{{flagathlete|Luis León Sánchez|ESP}}

|{{UCI team code|GCE|2010}}

|align=right| + 11"

3

|{{flagathlete|Greg Henderson|NZL}}

|{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}

|align=right| + 15"

4

|{{flagathlete|Robbie McEwen|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 17"

5

|{{flagathlete|Luke Roberts|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 17"

6

|{{flagathlete|Cadel Evans|AUS}}

|{{UCI team code|BMC|2010}}

|align=right| + 21"

7

|{{flagathlete|Eduard Vorganov|RUS}}

|{{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}

|align=right| + 25"

8

|{{flagathlete|Jürgen Roelandts|BEL}} Image:Jersey black.svg

|{{UCI team code|OLO|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

9

|{{flagathlete|Robbie Hunter|RSA}}

|{{UCI team code|GRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 26"

10

|{{flagathlete|Markus Fothen|GER}}

|{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}

|align=right| + 27"

{{Col-end}}

Classification leadership

In the 2010 Tour Down Under, six different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on each stage and in intermediate sprints, the leader received an ochre jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Tour Down Under, and the winner is considered the winner of the Tour.

File:André Greipel ochre 1, Stirling podium, TDU 2010 Stage 3.JPG receiving the ochre jersey.]]

Additionally, there was a sprint classification, which awarded a blue jersey. In the sprint classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top three in a stage or intermediate sprint, with the top three finishers in the stage getting 8, 6, and 4 points respectively, and the top three in the intermediate sprints getting 6, 4, and 2.

There was also a mountains classification, which awards a white jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Unlike most other cycling events, there was no categorization of climbs – each awarded the same points (16, 12, 8, 6, and 4) to the first five riders past the summit.

The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification. This classification awards a black jersey.

Due to UCI rules limiting the number of jersey awards to four, the above were the only jerseys awarded to riders which were then worn the next day during the stage. But there were two other jerseys. The first was the red jersey for the most aggressive rider. This award is comparable to the combativity award of the Tour de France. While the rider received a red jersey on the podium after the stage, he wore his normal jersey (unless holding one of the above four) in the next stage, with the aggressive rider award indicated by a red bib number.

The sixth and final jersey was for the teams classification. This jersey was not presented on the podiums daily, but it was awarded to the winning team at the end of the Tour. The teams classification is calculated by adding the times of each team's best four riders per stage per day. The jersey is blue.{{cite web

|url = http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/jerseydescription

|title = Jersey Description

|publisher = Santos Tour Down Under

|accessdate = 2009-12-27

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112000130/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/jerseydescription

|archivedate = 2009-11-12

|url-status = dead

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"
style="background-color: #efefef;"

! width="1%" | Stage

! width="14%" | Winner

! style="background:#EFEFEF;" width="12%"|General Classification
Image:Jersey orange.svg

! style="background:#EFEFEF;" width="12%"|Mountains Classification
Image:Jersey white.svg

! style="background:#EFEFEF;" width="12%"|Sprint Classification
Image:Jersey blue.svg

! style="background:#EFEFEF" width="12%"|Young Rider Classification
Image:Jersey black.svg

! style="background:#EFEFEF;" width="12%"|Team Classification
Image:Jersey blue.svg

! style="background:#EFEFEF;" width="12%"|Aggressive Rider
Image:Jersey red.svg

1

| André Greipel

| style="background:#FF8C00;" rowspan="6"| André Greipel

| style="background:offwhite;" rowspan="2"| Timothy Roe

| style="background:darkblue; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="1"| Martin Kohler

| style="background:black; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="1"|Martin Kohler

| style="background:#87CEEB;" rowspan="6"| Ag2r–La Mondiale

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| Timothy Roe

2

| André Greipel

| style="background:darkblue; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="5"| André Greipel

| style="background:black; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="5"|Jürgen Roelandts

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| David Kemp

3

| Manuel Cardoso

| style="background:offwhite;" rowspan="4"|Thomas Rohregger

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| Simon Clarke

4

| André Greipel

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| Stef Clement

5

| Luis León Sánchez

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| Cadel EvansSports Section, pp.44-45. Sunday Mail, 24 January 2010.

6

| Christopher Sutton

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1"| Wesley SulzbergerSports Section, pp.69-70. The Advertiser, 25 January 2010.

colspan=2| Final

| style="background:#FF8C00;" rowspan="1"| André Greipel

| style="background:offwhite;" rowspan="1"| Thomas Rohregger

| style="background:darkblue; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="1"| André Greipel

| style="background:black; color: #FFFFFF;" rowspan="1"| Jürgen Roelandts

| style="background:#87CEEB;" rowspan="1"| Ag2r–La Mondiale

| style="background:#CC0000;" rowspan="1" align="center"| —

References

{{Reflist|2}}