While Simon Gerrans has taken the headlines for Orica-GreenEDGE so far – rightly after his opening stage victory and two days in the ochre jersey – his room-mate Daryl Impey has been doing an outstanding job as his chief lieutenant. Although today was ultimately a failure for the Australian team having seen Gerrans surrender the ochre jersey, it was not for want of trying from his South African team-mate.

When Gerrans allowed Impey to take the maillot jaune for a stage in France, it was clear there is a strong mutual respect between the two riders and the South African has shown why over the last three days. A perfect lead-out for Gerrans in Angaston set him up for the opening stage victory, while he dropped Gerrans into pole position again yesterday before the Australian champion finished second. This time, with a much more demanding profile in the latter part of the race, Impey put in another big shift to keep Gerrans in the leading group and even attempted to bridge to him as they tried in vain to reel Cadel Evans’ back in. If Gerrans is to achieve big things this season, chances are the South African will be playing a major role in them.