International Hessen Rundfahrt, Cat 2.5

Main Page Stage 5a - Homberg (Efze) - Battenberg (Eder), 118.5 kms Report: By Tomas Nillson, cyclingnews.com correspondent The Hessen Rundfarht is set for a tight final stage with a new race yellow jersey having only seven second lead over the field. The tough and penultimate day started in triumph, once again, for Team Chicky World but ended in defeat. Bjarke Nielsen won the team's fourth stage in the morning stage, but this was a short-lived celebration for the Danish squad, which saw its grip on the race slip during the time trial in the afternoon. In the morning stage, the stage was decided in a six-man sprint, with Nielsen finishing ahead of Martin van Steen (TVM) and Andrea Nencini (Polit) in second and third positions. A notable top 10 finisher was Australia's Nick Gates, who's been selected to represent his country in the upcoming World Road Race Championships. Results: Stage 5a, Homberg/Efze - Battenberg/Eder, 119kms 1. Bjarke Nielsen (Den) Chicky World 2.57.48 2. Martin van Steen (Ned) TVM 3. Andrea Nencini (Ita) Polti 4. Andre Kalfack (Ger) Peugeot Berlin 5. Vicen van den Kooij (Ned) Rabobank/U23 6. Dennis Haueisen (Ger) LV Hessen 7. Thomas Heidrich (Ger) Agro Adler 0.03 8. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 9. Nick Gates (Aus) Continetale 0.06 10. Pieter Vries (Ned) TVM GC after stage 5a 1. Allan Johansen (Den) Chicky World 20.22.36 2. Eduard Gritsoun (Rus) Gerolsteiner 0.01 3. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Austria 0.21 4. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti 0.22 5. Ole Sigurd Simensen (Nor) Agro Adler 0.23 6. Jens Zemke (Ger) Nürnberger 0.21 7. Heinrich Trumheller (Ger) Continentale 0.24 8. Florian Wiesinger (Aut) Austria 9. Jörn Reuss (Ger) Nürnberger 0.33 10. Michael Schlickau (Ger) Deutschland 4.34