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Max Scores McCartney Hat-Trick!
Max Sciandri of the Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team today cemented the team's unbelievable performance in South
Africa by winning the 5th stage of the Vodacom Rapport Tour. It means that the squad have taken no less than three of
the five stages.
Max becomes the team's first British winner of the season, following Italian Maurizio De Pasquale's two stage wins
here. Linda McCartney's grip on this race also includes the points jersey for Maurizio and the King of the Mountains
mantle for Max.
"At the beginning of last year, we went to Malaysia and got a 1-2 on a stage of the Tour de Langkawi," recalled team
manager Sean Yates. "When Maurizio and Pascal got first and second the other day, I was pleased that we'd equalled
that. But then Maurizio won again, and now Max has done it too... what a great week!"
It was more attacking riding from the team again today that set up Max's victory. Within the first few kilometres, the
whole team were active, and Pascal Richard and Maurizio De Pasquale got in a break. The peloton were forced to chase
hard, and when the move was dragged back Max launched his effort. With him went Jan Ullrich's right-hand man Udo
Bolts, the popular German climber who has assisted in so many of the Telekom team's successful Tour de France rides.
There was also Dirk Muller, signed from Mapei to lead Swiss-Post this year, and FDJ star Xavier Jan. In all there were
six men up the road, and they worked together to build a large gap over the rest of the field.
When they approached the last 10kms, things started to get a little cagey, with the others wary of Max Sciandri's
finishing prowess. One by one, they tried to attack him, but the British star was in no mood for losing, and brought
back every attack, before crushing his opponents in the sprint.
Max now also has a good grip on the King of the Mountains jersey, having scored more points today as the break crossed
each climb en-route. Maurizio has twice as many points as the nearest challenger to his points jersey for most
consistent finisher, Italian champion Salvatore Comesso.
Report by John Deering
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