In his first major race since sustaining a serious wrist fracture in December last year Darren Lill has soled from the break of 7 to take stage 1 of the Tour de Bisbee.
Team Fly V Australia is racing the Tour de Bisbee to continue honing its stage racing performances ahead of the Amgen Tour of California. Bisbee has the benefits of altitude, is an excellent race and provides a springboard towards the Team’s major season goals.
Team DS for La Vuelta de Bisbee, Henk Vogels said, “Darren had a set back at the start of the year when he badly broke his wrist but in his first real major test he is already showing his class. Bisbee is great preparation for Gila and our major season goal, the Amgen Tour of California. We have had a great start to the year and with such depth within our roster picking the best 8 guys for the Amgen Tour of California will be difficult.”
The La Vuelta de Bisbee concludes tomorrow with the 135km ‘queen’ stage aptly named the Tomb Stage road race that includes climbing both sides of Mule Pass that tops out at 1,800 meters.
Lill will start tomorrow’s final and decisive stage with a 23 second lead over Roman Kilun (United Health Care). Lill said, “I have a great team around me and with the lead I have I am heading into tomorrow’s stage upbeat about my chances of holding onto the Yellow Jersey.”
GC results heading into the final stage:
1 Darren Lill (Fly V Austrailia)
2 Roman Kilun (United Healthcare)
3 Christian Helmig (Metro VW)