Tour of Korea - 2.2

Korea, May 4-10, 2006

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Stage 6 - May 9: Yangyang - Yangyang, 167km

Drapac Porsche make it 4

Giant holds onto yellow

By Robert Young

Tobias Erler (Giant Asia Racing Team)
Photo ©: Daniella Mollica

Stage Six of the Tour of Korea saw Rob McLachlan take his second win in two years on the Yang Yang circuit race. The four by 40km looped course took in a tough climb at the half way point of each lap, but despite a 90km breakaway by Mitch Docker (Drapac Porsche), Lee Won Jae (Seoul City) and Jang Sun Jae (Sang Moo) designed to force yellow jersey Giant Asia into chasing, the field came together for a bunch sprint with all the GC contenders present.

In a chaotic finish six riders crashed heavily at high speed but Dean Windsor was able to guide McLachlan through to the line for Drapac Porsche’s fourth stage win of the tour.

There was no change on GC, which means Giant Asia’s Tobias Erler needs only hold on for the 28km opening climb tomorrow to be virtually assured of the win. With Erler proving to be very strong on the flats, and being backed by a team prepared to chase hard, the other GC contenders will need to drop the big German on the climb then stay away for over 100km to the finish – a big ask but not impossible.

Stage 7, the final stage of the tour, is a 133km circuit from Yang Yang to Yang Yang around the Mt Seroak National Park.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Daniella Mollica/Drapac Porsche

Tobias Erler (Giant Asia Racing Team) still in yellow with one day to go
The stage started in rain once again
Mitch Docker (Drapac Porsche) was on the attack for most of the stage
Drapac Porsche again had the luxury of a free ride while Giant and Skil-Shimano chased the breakaway.
Zak Dempster has played a strong support role for Drapac Porsche in his first UCI Asia tour.

Results

Coming!