Clarke Takes TDU Second Stage

Last updated : 18 January 2012 By Kev Monks

UniSA's Will Clarke won the second stage of the Tour Down Under today.

Stage two was 148 kilometres from Lobethal to Stirling and saw Guesdon and Roelandts still in hospital and out of the race, following the crash in the final three kilometres in which a female spectator was hit.

Martin Kohler (BMC), who had taken the two sprints yesterday was out in front again and picked up the opening sprint of the day.

Kohler then took second place in the first King Of The Mountains climb on the Fox Creek Road in Stirling to UniSA'S Will Clarke but was back to take the second sprint and give himself a good chance of getting into the leaders ocre jersey.

Kohler was in a group of three which were 11 mins, forty seconds ahead as the race entered the second of three circuits around Stirling.

Into the final lap and the peloton was split into two groups. They chased and chased but Will Clarke, who had been in the break after just a kilometre, held on to win the stage ahead of Matthews, Gerrans, Valverde and Boasson Hagen in fifth.

The British and Irish placings were: Matthew Brammeier 77th, Andrew Fenn 87th, Geraint Thomas 90th, Adam Blythe 105th, Alex Dowsett 124th,

Martin Kohler now wears the leaders Ocre jersey and has a two second lead over Andre Greipel.