Durbridge in Action in Norway
AIS-WAIS cyclist Luke Durbridge has helped his teammate Michale Matthews to a second consecutive stage win in the Ringerike Grand Prix in Norway.
Canberra teenager Matthews has collected back to back wins in Norway with the Jayco-Skins rider sprinting home in Vikersund to win the third stage of the five day tour.
The 19 year old crossed the line in a time of 3:48:20 two bike lengths clear of second placed Jesper Asselman (NED) with another Dutchman, Mats Boeve third.
“Today was really good and the team worked really well for me and got me to the finish feeling really fresh,” said Matthews. “In the last ten k (kilometres) the boys strung it out and set really high tempo and in the last k just smashed it on the front, my boys, and gave me a good lead out for the finish.”
As the race headed out of Drammen south along the coast of the Drammensfjord for the 161 kilometre stage Britain’s Daniel Shand (Team Raleigh) had his eye on the early intermediate sprint and mountain points. He attacked to win the sprint at 40km and the two climbs at the 45 and 61 kilometre marks.
Shand increased his lead to close to four minutes before the Swedish national team of tour leader Alexander Wetterhall, 24, began to chase and with 30 kilometres remaining had reeled him in.
“Then the attacks were fast and furious,” said Team Director, James Victor. “They all knew that with Matthews form he’d be the one to beat in a bunch sprint so everyone was trying to get a rider down the road.”
That included Team Jayco-Skins with South Australian Rohan Dennis, 20, and West Australian Luke Durbridge, 19, attacking in a bid to claw back some of Wetterhall’s 20 seconds leading margin. But the race regrouped with ten kilometres remaining and Matthews was poised to pounce.
“Dennis hit the front and kept the pace high for the last kilometre with Matthews tucked in behind,” said Victor. “Matthews came off Dennis’ wheel brilliantly and had too much speed for the rest, he even managed to start his victory salute 50 metres from the line.”
Tomorrow’s 175km stage starts and finishes in Honefoss.
“It’s expected to be the toughest stage of the Tour and a good chance for Team Jayco Skins to seriously challenge for the race lead,” said Victor.
Wetterhall has a 19 second lead over Norwegian Christer Rake with Matthews sitting third at the top of a group of 28 riders who are all at 20 seconds from the leader. They include Dennis, ranked eleventh, and Durbridge in 15th place.
Matthews continues to wear the white jersey as leader of the Best Young Rider classification.
– Cycling Australia