Vansummeren Lotto's joker

Johan Vansummeren (Davitamon-Lotto), who was bitterly disappointed not to have won yesterday's third stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, has the consolation that he is now in second in the overall classification, just two seconds behind leader Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros). In the coming stages, he will certainly try his utmost to move past the Spaniard.

"It's a pity for Robbie [McEwen] that we lost the leader's jersey," said Lotto's director Hendrik Redant to Belga. "But I can now play Vansummeren as a joker for the final classification. In the early break of 26 I had two men, Kuyckx and Vansummeren. When Sanchez attacked in the finale, Vansummeren immediately joined him. Furthermore, with his second place in the stage he did a great job for what's coming up. Johan can climb and therefore may go fully for his chances."