Drapac Porsche takes teams classification Hokkaido

Australian team Drapac Porsche had a successful Tour de Hokkaido, a five-day stage race in Japan. They won the teams classification by more than nine minutes. And team member Darren Lapthorne, the current Australian road champion, was only eight seconds down on the general classification to finish second, beaten only by German Henri Werner.

Lapthorne and Mitchell Docker also brought stage wins to the team. Docker won stage three and Lapthorne took out stage five. Fellow team-mates Stuart Shaw, Mark O'Brien and Robbie Williams were constantly attacking and chasing for the team in each stage. At least three members of the team finished in the top 30 every stage, which allowed the team to win the coveted team prize.

The success from this tour puts the Drapac Porsche team in a commanding position for the upcoming Jayco Herald Sun Tour. Drapac Porsche will also have the home ground advantage and support, but the strength and experience of the team will determine the outcome throughout the seven-stage event.