For the Fly V Australia team, today’s Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California was all about planning and executing. Covering 195 kilometers over a sinuous route from Visalia to Bakersfield, and taking in two categorized climbs and finishing with 2 laps of a punishing circuit that featured a tough 1.5 kilometer climb to the line, this was always going to be a stage where the cream rose to the top.
Fly V australia’s plan centered on getting Jay Thomson into an early break to help set the stage for Fly V australia’s fast men with good climbing legs. However just 5 kilometers into the stage in a fast tailwind section, a touch of wheels led to a massive crash which would have a big bearing on the race, the stage and the day’s plans. With the crash taking out Jay Thomson – not to mention Lance Armstrong, Stuart O’Grady and Heinrich Haussler – it was time to enact plan B.
Plan B came to fruition at the 30 kilometer mark when Ben Day got into the day’s break of 6 riders, representing Fly V Australia plus Pro Tour teams Quick Step, HTC-Columbia and Robobank, plus Bissell and Jelly Belly. The break quickly established a good rhythm to move out to a 5 minute advantage. At the top of the first KOM climb, the lead group had established a solid 4 min 30 sec lead, while back in the bunch, the leading contenders for the overall title pushed the pace to split the peloton.
Behind Day, all Fly V australia’s remaining riders made the yellow jersey group while most of the race’s top sprinters were left behind in the autobus . This weight of numbers meant that Fly V australia was solidly placed to animate the day’s racing – and this is precisely what happened.
One kilometer before the top of the day’s second KOM climb with 40 kilometers remaining and the yellow jersey group taking large bites out of the leader’s time advantage, Day launched an aggressive attack with only fellow Aussie Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia) able to go with him. Although the initial attack was eventually nullified 10 kilometers later, it was simply an entrée to a further flurry of attacks from Day and Renshaw who traded blows all the way to the 7 kilometer finishing circuit.
With 7 kilometers remaining, Day launched a final withering attack that none could follow. For the next 5 kilometers it looked like Day would take the day’s honors, however the closing speed of the yellow jersey group saw day caught at the Flame Rouge with 1 kilometer remaining.
In the end, the punishing nature of the finishing circuit and the final climb meant that it was a GC riders’ stage, with Phil Zajicek finishing just outside the top 10. However for his day’s efforts, Ben Day was awarded the day’s Most Courageous Rider award, fitting recognition for his tremendous ride.