With Marcel Kittel starting the day as favourite for the stage, spectators were relishing another battle between the young German sprint ace and his compatriot Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol). However, come Victor Harbour only one was in contention, and Greipel was able to power to an emphatic victory. Kittel finally arrived at the finish line some 13 minutes later after Orica-GreenEDGE’s pace, and the effects of the crosswinds, blew the peloton to pieces and ended any hopes Kittel had of winning the stage.

Echelons in pro cycling are nothing new, and it takes great skill to master them. But Giant-Shimano have had these lessons before – think back to the Tour de France when Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) just made the split thanks to a stunning team ride, to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Kittel. Kittel and his team once again fell behind in the face of one team – in that case Omega Pharma-Quickstep – setting a phenomenal pace at the front of the bunch. On both occasions strong crosswinds were forecast, and yet on both occasions Kittel and his team-mates came up short. The young German’s ability as a sprinter is undoubted, but the great fast-men know how to stay in control of a race throughout – not just in the final kilometres. Giant-Shimano were unfortunate to miss the split, but it was not luck which allowed Greipel and five of his team-mates to make the leading group. It was great skill, and Kittel and his team-mates should take note.