The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under was the 13th edition of the Tour Down Under stage race. It took place from 18 to 23 January in and around Adelaide, South Australia, and was the first race of the 2011 UCI World Tour.[1] The Tour was preceded by the Cancer Council Classic race, on Sunday, 16 January, that consisted in a circuit of 30 laps around the Rymill Park in Adelaide's East End, totaling 51 kilometres (32 mi).[2]

2011 Tour Down Under
2011 UCI World Tour, race 1 of 27
Race details
Dates18–23 January 2011
Stages6
Distance758 km (471.0 mi)
Winning time17h 54' 27"
Results
Winner  Cameron Meyer (Australia) (Garmin–Cervélo)
  Second  Matthew Goss (Australia) (HTC–Highroad)
  Third  Ben Swift (Great Britain) (Team Sky)

Mountains  Luke Roberts (Australia) (UniSA-Australia)
Youth  Cameron Meyer (Australia) (Garmin–Cervélo)
Sprints  Matthew Goss (Australia) (HTC–Highroad)
  Team Movistar Team
← 2010
2012 →

The race was won by Garmin–Cervélo rider Cameron Meyer, after holding onto the leader's ochre jersey which came from a breakaway stage win on stage four.[3][4] Meyer's winning margin over runner-up and fellow Australian Matthew Goss (HTC–Highroad) – winner of the first stage of the race – was just two seconds, the equal second smallest margin in the race's history. Team Sky's Ben Swift – a stage winner on the second and final stages – completed the podium, eight seconds down on Meyer.

In the race's other classifications, overall winner Meyer also guaranteed himself the black jersey for the highest placed rider under the age of 26, and Goss took home the blue jersey for amassing the highest number of points during stages at intermediate sprints and stage finishes. UniSA-Australia rider Luke Roberts won the King of the Mountains classification, with Movistar Team finishing at the head of the teams classification.

Overall favourites

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The 2011 Tour Down Under was a very exciting race this year as Mark Cavendish of HTC–Highroad marked his first appearance ever.[5] Germany's André Greipel left Mark Cavendish's team of Team HTC–Columbia in 2010 and joined Omega Pharma–Lotto, creating a rivalry between two top sprinters. Greipel, the leader of Omega Pharma–Lotto tried to take full advantage of his captaincy and win his third Tour Down Under.[6]

Although he was not expected to be an overall contender, the 2011 Tour marks Lance Armstrong's last race outside the U.S. as a professional cyclist.[7]

Participating teams

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As the Tour Down Under was a UCI World Tour event, all UCI ProTeams were invited automatically and obligated to send a squad.

UCI ProTeams:

Teams awarded a wildcard invitation:

  • Uni SA-Australia

Schedule

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Stage Route Distance Date Winner
1 Mawson Lakes > Angaston 138 km (86 mi) Tuesday, 18 January   Matthew Goss (AUS)
2 Tailem Bend > Mannum 146 km (91 mi) Wednesday, 19 January   Ben Swift (GBR)
3 Unley > Stirling 129 km (80 mi) Thursday, 20 January   Michael Matthews (AUS)
4 Norwood > Strathalbyn 124 km (77 mi) Friday, 21 January   Cameron Meyer (AUS)
5 McLaren Vale > Willunga 131 km (81 mi) Saturday, 22 January   Francisco Ventoso (ESP)
6 Adelaide > Adelaide 90 km (56 mi) Sunday, 23 January   Ben Swift (GBR)

Stages

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Stage 1, Mawson Lakes to Angaston

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Stage 1 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Matthew Goss (AUS) HTC–Highroad 3h 17' 08"
2   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto s.t.
3   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack s.t.
4   Christopher Sutton (AUS) Team Sky s.t.
5   Elia Viviani (ITA) Liquigas–Cannondale s.t.
6   Romain Feillu (FRA) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
7   Alessandro Ballan (ITA) BMC Racing Team s.t.
8   Iñaki Isasi (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi s.t.
9   José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) Movistar Team s.t.
10   Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Sky s.t.
General Classification after Stage 1
Rider Team Time
1   Matthew Goss (AUS)       HTC–Highroad 3h 16' 58"
2   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 4"
3   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack + 6"
4   Mitchell Docker (AUS) UniSA-Australia + 7"
5   Mathieu Perget (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 7"
6   Simon Clarke (AUS)   Astana + 7"
7   Miguel Minguez (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 7"
8   Christopher Sutton (AUS) Team Sky + 10"
9   Elia Viviani (ITA) Liquigas–Cannondale + 10"
10   Romain Feillu (FRA) Vacansoleil–DCM + 10"

Stage 2, Tailem Bend to Mannum

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Stage 2 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky 3h 27' 44"
2   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack s.t.
3   Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank s.t.
4   Romain Feillu (FRA) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
5   Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto s.t.
6   Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Quick-Step s.t.
7   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank s.t.
8   Denis Galimzyanov (RUS) Team Katusha s.t.
9   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team s.t.
10   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana s.t.
General Classification after Stage 2
Rider Team Time
1   Robbie McEwen (AUS)   Team RadioShack 6h 44' 42"
2   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad + 0"
3   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 0"
4   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 4"
5   Mitchell Docker (AUS)   UniSA-Australia + 4"
6   Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank + 6"
7   David Tanner (AUS) Saxo Bank–SunGard + 6"
8   Mathieu Perget (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 7"
9   Miguel Minguez (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 7"
10   Simon Zahner (SWI) BMC Racing Team + 7"

Stage 3, Unley to Stirling

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Stage 3 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank 3h 11' 47"
2   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto s.t.
3   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad s.t.
4   Simon Gerrans (AUS) Team Sky s.t.
5   Luke Roberts (AUS)   UniSA-Australia s.t.
6   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team s.t.
7   Gorka Izagirre (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi s.t.
8   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana s.t.
9   Blel Kadri (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale s.t.
10   Simone Ponzi (ITA) Liquigas–Cannondale s.t.
General Classification after Stage 3
Rider Team Time
1   Matthew Goss (AUS)       HTC–Highroad 9h 56' 25"
2   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 2"
3   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack + 4"
4   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank + 4"
5   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 4"
6   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana + 14"
7   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team + 14"
8   Manuele Mori (ITA) Lampre–ISD + 14"
9   Alessandro Ballan (ITA) BMC Racing Team + 14"
10   Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Sky + 14"

Stage 4, Norwood to Strathalbyn

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Stage 4 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Cameron Meyer (AUS) Garmin–Cervélo 2h 57' 55"
2   Thomas De Gendt (BEL) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
3   Laurens ten Dam (NED) Rabobank + 3"
4   Matthew Wilson (AUS) Garmin–Cervélo + 10"
5   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad + 24"
6   José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) Movistar Team + 24"
7   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 24"
8   Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 24"
9   Nikolay Trusov (RUS) Team Katusha + 24"
10   Romain Feillu (FRA) Vacansoleil–DCM + 24"
General Classification after Stage 4
Rider Team Time
1   Cameron Meyer (AUS)     Garmin–Cervélo 12h 54' 30"
2   Laurens ten Dam (NED) Rabobank + 10"
3   Matthew Goss (AUS) HTC–Highroad + 12"
4   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack + 15"
5   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 16"
6   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank + 18"
7   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 18"
8   Blel Kadri (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 26"
9   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team + 27"
10   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana + 28"

Stage 5, McLaren Vale to Willunga

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Stage 5 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team 3h 06' 10"
2   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank s.t.
3   Matthew Goss (AUS) HTC–Highroad s.t.
4   José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) Movistar Team s.t.
5   Luke Roberts (AUS)   UniSA-Australia s.t.
6   Robert Hunter (RSA) Team RadioShack s.t.
7   Blel Kadri (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale s.t.
8   Alessandro Ballan (ITA) BMC Racing Team s.t.
9   Ben Hermans (BEL) Team RadioShack s.t.
10   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky s.t.
General Classification after Stage 5
Rider Team Time
1   Cameron Meyer (AUS)     Garmin–Cervélo 16h 00' 40"
2   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad + 8"
3   Laurens ten Dam (NED) Rabobank + 10"
4   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank + 12"
5   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team + 17"
6   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 18"
7   Blel Kadri (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 26"
8   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 27"
9   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana + 28"
10   Luke Roberts (AUS)   UniSA-Australia + 28"

Stage 6, Adelaide to Adelaide

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Stage 6 Result
Rider Team Time
1   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky 1h 53' 47"
2   Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Sky s.t.
3   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad s.t.
4   Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team RadioShack s.t.
5   Juan José Haedo (ARG) Saxo Bank–SunGard s.t.
6   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana s.t.
7   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto s.t.
8   Romain Feillu (FRA) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
9   Davide Viganò (ITA) Leopard Trek s.t.
10   Jonathan Cantwell (AUS) UniSA-Australia s.t.
Final General Classification
Rider Team Time
1   Cameron Meyer (AUS)     Garmin–Cervélo 17h 54' 27"
2   Matthew Goss (AUS)   HTC–Highroad + 2"
3   Ben Swift (GBR) Team Sky + 8"
4   Michael Matthews (AUS) Rabobank + 9"
5   Laurens ten Dam (NED) Rabobank + 10"
6   Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar Team + 17"
7   André Greipel (GER) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 26"
8   Blel Kadri (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 26"
9   Allan Davis (AUS) Astana + 27"
10   Luke Roberts (AUS)   UniSA-Australia + 28"

Classification leadership

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In the 2011 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 was considered the most important of the Tour Down Under, and the winner was considered the winner of the Tour.

Additionally, there was a sprint classification, which awarded a blue jersey. In the sprint classification, cyclists earned 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 awarded 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 as each awards 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 awarded a black jersey.

Due to UCI rules limiting the number of jersey awards to four, the above are 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 was 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 was calculated by adding the times of each team's best four riders per stage per day. The jersey was blue.

Stage Winner General Classification
 
Mountains Classification
 
Sprint Classification
 
Young Rider Classification
 
Team Classification
 
Aggressive Rider
 
1 Matthew Goss Matthew Goss Luke Roberts Matthew Goss Matthew Goss Team Sky Simon Clarke
2 Ben Swift Robbie McEwen Mitchell Docker Yuriy Krivtsov
3 Michael Matthews Matthew Goss Matthew Goss Luke Durbridge
4 Cameron Meyer Cameron Meyer Thomas De Gendt Cameron Meyer Garmin–Cervélo Thomas De Gendt
5 Francisco Ventoso Matthew Goss Movistar Team Richie Porte
6 Ben Swift Stuart O'Grady
Final Cameron Meyer Luke Roberts Matthew Goss Cameron Meyer Movistar Team

References

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  1. ^ "2011 Map of all Routes - Santos Tour Down Under - UCI World Tour". Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Cancer Council Classic – Santos Tour Down Under – UCI World Tour". Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Cameron Meyer wins Tour Down Under as Ben Swift takes final stage". The Guardian. Press Association. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Meyer wins, Armstrong bows out". Independent Online. South Africa. South African Press AssociationAFP. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Welcome Cavendish, Sky Pro Cycling, BMC Racing Team, Lampre-ISD, Team Katusha – Santos Tour Down Under – UCI World Tour". Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Preview – Santos Tour Down Under". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Lance Armstrong boosts ride numbers – Santos Tour Down Under – UCI World Tour". Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
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