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Team Sky victory in Ster Elektrotoer

Story posted June 19, 2010 | from www.teamsky.com

Greg Henderson and Russell Downing one-two for Team Sky on stage two of the Ster Elektrotoer on Friday
New Zealander Greg Henderson was perfectly set up by his Team Sky teammates at the end of the 178km stage into Schimmert (Holland) and finished things off in stunning style, with Britain's Russell Downing the only man near him crossing the line. Henderson jumped into fourth in the overall standings as a result, just seven seconds behind Jos van Emden (Rabobank).

Team Sky had been to the fore throughout a stage which covered plenty of the ground seen earlier this year in the Spring Classics at the Amstel Gold Race, with six short, sharp climbs - or 'bergs' - to negotiate, including the fabled Cauberg (after 135km). Mathew Hayman and John-Lee Augustyn were in an early 19-man breakaway but when that had been reeled in, the Isle of Man's future star Peter Kennaugh took the opportunity to make his mark.

Kennaugh, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday, was part of a four-man escape who hoovered up the points on offer at five of the last six climbs. He was second on four of those and his display earned him the combative rider of the day award. The quartet were finally collared just after cresting the Cauberg and the focus then switched to Henderson, Downing and co as they took centre stage when it mattered.

Perfect response
Henderson was understandably delighted when Team Sky's website caught up with him just after the finish - and he was keen to pay tribute to the way Team Sky had responded to Thursday's reverse. He explained "We didn't get it right on yesterday's stage. We just made some simple mistakes but we sat down afterwards, talked it through and vowed to learn from it - and that's exactly what everyone's done. We corrected those simple mistakes today, jockeyed positions around a little bit and it all worked out perfectly."

"I was just guiding them from behind, talking to them and making sure everyone knew where they had to be and when they had to do it."

Everything went to plan, so much so that Henderson described it as "textbook", adding "When Russell took off for the sprint, I gave him a bike length or two like I do on the track and then I took a run at it. The speed at the finish was just so high that there was no chance and no time for anyone to come round us. Russell ended up coming second - he came straight back in behind me as I'd gapped the guy who was on my wheel."

"It was a textbook finish from all the guys and it's nice to come here and show what Team Sky can do in getting a stage win."

Russell 'Fonzy' Downing echoed Henderson's comments, saying "I think Columbia tried to come around us 2k out over on the left-hand side but didn't get to us and someone else tried on the last corner but we went again with a brilliant train on the front. All the guys were doing massive turns and it's good to be part of a lead-out that wins again." Looking ahead to the rest of the race, Downing added: "Tomorrow is quite a hard stage so we'll see what happens, see who gets in the mix. And then on Sunday, we'll stick to the same plan as today and try and do it all over again."