The stage started with a 7.5 km steep climb over Saddleback Mountain out of Kiama. It is very steep (11 per cent) but constant. Andersson put pressure on from the start of the climb and Tanner and Bobbie Julich followed. Julich cracked first then Tanner as Andersson powered up the climb. A group of 12 were tightly bunched behind the three.
At the top, with 145 kms to go, Andersson went over on his own, then Julich, Tanner, Gottschling and then the group of about 11 riders some 30 seconds down.
On the descent, the motor bike following Andersson clocked 102 kms per hour. Fast!
Following quickly was the next major climb over Jamberoo Pass (which was longer but not as steep as the first climb). Starting with a gap of just over 1 minute at the bottom, Andersson extended this to over 3:00 mins by the time he had gone over the KOM. Julich came over next at 3:05.
Once on to the undulating plateau which can be tough due to winds (in fact today the winds were from the north east which were favourable), the NZ Sanitarium team seemed to be acting in concert with the English Ampol-Caltex team of race leader Lillywhite (who chose not to wear the yellow b/c rightfully it should have belonged to Van Heeswijk, but then rightfully, it should have been on Swart!).
The gap to Andersson was at 4 mins and the NZ and English teams were starting to power a group of 22 riders with all 16 in the top of the GC in the 22. After 100 kms, the work of the NZ and English riders resulted in the gaps closing as Andersson was swept up. Interestingly, the main bunch behind the 23 riders was already 30 minutes down and seemingly giving up the ghost for the day.
At 5 kms to go, Julich attacked and was marked by Tanner and AIS-Giant rider Kelvin Martin. Tanner would be leader on the road. Martin attacked soon after and held the gap to take the stage. Some joy at last for the National Road Team of Australia who have been having an appalling tour.