Orica-GreenEDGE chase Tour win

15 Jul 2012, 4:39 pm   -   Source: AAP
Orica-GreenEDGE were unable to snare an elusive win at stage 13 of the Tour de France. (AAP)

Orica-GreenEDGE were unable to snare an elusive win at stage 13 of the Tour de France. (AAP)

New Australian team Orica-GreenEDGE are desperate for a stage win at the Tour de France.

Now the green jersey is out of reach, new Australian Tour de France team Orica-GreenEDGE are throwing everything at an elusive stage win.

The controversial 30-point penalty handed to their sprinter Matt Goss after stage 12 ended his pursuit of Peter Sagan's green jersey lead.

"That dream is over," team director Matt White said bluntly.

But Monday's 158.5km stage from Samatan to Pau is tailor-made for a team such as Orica-GreenEDGE, who have no general classification contenders.

Goss, Michael Albasini, Daryl Impey and Simon Gerrans all should have their opportunities.

The stage features two category-four climbs and one category three in the second half, giving the opportunists a chance to set up breakaways.

But if the sprinters' teams control the race, Goss should be in contention at the finish as well.

When Goss could not make the front selection on the tough category-three climb in stage 12, Albasini joined Alexandre Vinokourov in an impressive attack that put the main group under pressure.

Then, Impey continued to show his strong form by finishing fifth.

"Similar guys with the same characteristics will be competitive on that stage, whether we put someone in the break or it comes to a sprint," White said.

"We have options when it comes to sprinters - we have Impey, we have Albasini, we have Goss and we also have guys who are capable of going down the road."

White admitted after stage 12 that Goss had struggled to deal with the penalty that ended his green jersey campaign.

He had reduced the margin to a very gettable 24 points before the race judges ruled he had come off his line in a sprint against Sagan at the end of stage 11.

"He was disappointed, for sure - he's put a lot into the last three days, he's busted his arse to get through those mountains and the way that decision ended up against him, he was disappointed, but everyone was," White said.

Apart from the big mountain stages to come in the Pyrenees and the stage-19 time trial, Orica-GreenEDGE still have several chances for a win.

They have managed every place so far from second to seventh.

"We've been one of the most consistent teams of the whole race and (we've) made the race, from day one until now," White said.

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