Drapac Professional Cycling showed the tactical power of their sprint train today at Tour de Korea. In a windy, hot 197km stage, Drapac played the perfect game of cycling chess, bringing Dutch sprinter Wouter Wippert into position to unleash his powerful sprint to take the stage and his second win of the tour.
“It really was the perfect job by the team in the last 30 km. Adam (Phelan) got me out off the wind for 25km then Will (Clarke) and Travis (Meyer) did an important job in last 5km. With 1km to go Graeme did an amazing lead out. I started around 300meters to go and was really glad to have the 55 chain ring on with this tailwind. Very happy to take the victory for the team today,” Wippert said.
The stage started with the peloton letting a break stick pretty early in the day. The field came together at 22km, with the sprint teams setting the stage for a fast final. Unfortunately, Bernard Sulzberger flatted with 20km to go and was out of the final.
“The last 30km was solid and a bit windy. We tried to get something going in the crosswinds but it wasn’t quite strong enough to split the field,” Phelan said.
With just under 10km to go, the attacks started coming. The team held to the front with Meyer and Clarke covering.
“The last 600mts I committed to the lead out with Wouter and at 250meters I moved out so he could run at Blythe and he hit out and no one moved from there. Good day and we go again tomorrow,” Brown said.
Tomorrow’s stage, at 145km, features the climb mid route, with a small pitch at 5km to go, rolling fast downhill to the finish.
“Great day for Drapac and for Wouter to finish off some excellent work by the guys again. Wouter showed again he is a world class sprinter and the support he received from all the boys is second to none. We have our momentum for the last two days now,” Keith Flory, Sports Director added.
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