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Track star Manly's big week in German tour

Ian ChadbandAAP
Double world track champ Alexandra Manly is enjoying a big three-win week on the roads of Germany.
Camera IconDouble world track champ Alexandra Manly is enjoying a big three-win week on the roads of Germany. Credit: AP

Alexandra Manly is making the best of her big opportunity to leap from domestique to serial winner on the European roads as the Australian track star still leads the Thuringen Ladies Tour in Germany.

The double world champion on the track finished second in Saturday's fifth stage, for a fourth podium finish in five days following her hat-trick of wins earlier in the race this week - her first triumphs on the European roads.

The 26-year-old pursuit, points and madison rider from Kalgoorlie, who's normally on domestique duty for her Australian BikeExchange-Jayco team but has been freed up to shoot for overall victory, goes into Sunday's final day with a 31-second lead.

That sets up the prospect of a great double success for Australian cycling this weekend, with Manly's fellow West Australian Jai Hindley set to win the Giro d'Italia.

Yuliia Biriukova (Arkea Pro Cycling Team) produced a fine breakaway ride to win the 131km fifth stage in and around Gotha, with Manly grabbing more bonus points by sprinting to the runner's-up spot four seconds behind.

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Manly, the 2019 world team pursuit and points race champion, not only leads the general classification but also has a practically unassailable lead in the points competition.

The last stage, a relatively flat 104.3km route starting and finishing in Altenburg, should pose no problems for Manly and her teammates to protect the lead, thus earning her a first overall title in the pro ranks.

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