Melbourne, AUS - Greg Henderson and Karl Menzies of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis finished in 2nd and 4th respectively in the final stage of the Jayco Herald SunTour Saturday.
The team was looking for another stage win in the final day's criterium, while race leader Chris Jongewaard (Savings & Loan) and last year's SunTour champion Simon Gerrans (Jayco Australia) battled it out for the overall. The two riders came into the last stage separated by a single second.
While Jayco Australia tried to control the race and get their leader bonus seconds - with the help of super-sprinter/domestique Robbie McEwen - Health Net Presented by Maxxis bided its time. With two laps to go, Health Net Presented by Maxxis went to the front to try to set up Menzies for his second stage win. McEwen slotted himself right behind the Health Net Presented by Maxxis train, with Gerrans on his wheel, and Jongewaard right behind him, the two riders now tied on time after trading bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints.
In the final sprint, McEwen, the Tour de France Green Jersey winner who ride for Davitamon-Lotto, was able to guide Gerrans, who rides for Pro Tour team AG2R in Europe, into third place, while coming around Henderson for the stage win. Menzies secured 7th place overall in the race after holding the leader's jersey from Stage 2 through Stage 5.
Menzies lost the lead on the 22 km climb up to Lake Mountain. "I'm not a climber so there's no real pressure on me," Menzies said before Stage 5. Menzies fell off the pace on the steep opening four to five kilometers but still finished a respectable 15th on the stage, moving to 8th overall. He moved up to 7th overall after Friday's 11.3 km time trial, in which he finished 8th.
Notes
Kirk O'Bee of Health Net Presented by Maxxis was able to jump up one place in the final overall classification to finish 10th after being on hand in the decisive break in Stage 2 to help Menzies to the stage win and race lead. That break finished nearly a half-hour ahead of the peloton.
Official Results
