Roulston grabs final stage victory in Denmark

Double Beijing medallist Hayden Roulston gave a strong signal of his potent form when he won the final stage of the Tour of Denmark today.

Roulston cleared out with 800m to go in the final telling break on the uphill finishing straight in Copenhagen, on part of the course to be used for next year’s world championship.

The Kiwi, named in the team for October’s Commonwealth Games, powered clear to win for his HTC Columbia team.

"Hayden rode like he had diamonds in his legs today," said Sport Director Brian Holm. "He was amazing when he went up the final 800m straight."

"It was a very, very hard stage today," added Holm. "It was raining and it fast all day. At 120km everything was still together so there were constant attacks."

There were two strong breaks which looked ominous but then the last of those was caught, then Roulston attacked.

It capped a strong effort from Roulston’s team who gained three stage wins in the Tour of Denmark.

Rotorua’s Clinton Avery also marked his first stagiaire trial with Radioshack in finishing fifth today in the final cash, just two seconds behind Roulston and ahead of notables including Tyler Farrar and Mark Renshaw.

Avery’s kiwi team-mates on the Radioshack line-up, Sam Berwley and Jess Sergent, were in the peloton, 20 seconds behind the winner.

Tour of Denmark, stage six: Hayden Roulston (NZL, HTC Columbia) 4:03.17, 1; Matti Breschel (Den, SaxoBank) at 2 secs, 2; Manuel Belletti (Ita, Colnago CSF) same time, 3.
Other New Zealanders: Clinton Avery (Radioskack) at 2sec, 5; Jesse Sergent (Radioshack) at 20sec, 59; Sam Bewley (Radioshack) same time, 60.