<p>Young Australian professional, Simon Clarke is Allan Davis's key helper this week at the Tour Down Under in Australia.</p><p>
</p><p>
"My job is to be here for Allan," said the 24-year-old from Melbourne.</p><p>
</p><p>
"I am not a pure sprinter like Mark Renshaw [team HTC], but I will do what I can leading to the final kilometres. I have track skills and I know how to ride in a sprint. My job is to get Allan to be with Renshaw or the other lead-out men in the final kilometres."</p><p>
</p><p>
Clarke was visible at the front Sunday for the pre-race criterium. He took Davis to the back end of team Sky's train. In the first stage on Tuesday, he formed part of a five man escape group and took enough bonus seconds to win the young riders' jersey.</p><p>
</p><p>
His mind, though, is only on helping Davis.</p><p>
</p><p>
"I will do what I can for Allan," said Clarke. "As long as he gets a stage win, that will be more important."</p><p>
</p><p>
Astana's sports director at the Tour Down Under, Guido Bontempi agreed.</p><p>
</p><p>
"Andriy Grivko, Valentin Iglinsky and Clarke will help Allan. He has a chance at a stage and the classification," Bontempi explained. "The stages are more or less all the same and suited for Allan, except for Saturday's stage to Willunga that will be the day to decide the classification."</p><p>
</p><p>
Davis has won six stages in Tour Down Under history. He won the race's overall classification in 2009.</p><p>
</p><p>
"Simon is the one who puts me in the position to win," Davis explained. "We need to keep working like that to get a result here because without a team you can't do anything, considering the other sprinters and their teams here."</p><p>
</p><p>
Clarke has a big future, explained Davis.</p><p>
</p><p>
"He's got a good mentality. If you got a good mentality, you can go for a long time," Davis added. "He is a good all around bike rider, he can be good in the one-day classics like Milano-Sanremo, the Ardennes."</p>
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</p><p>
"My job is to be here for Allan," said the 24-year-old from Melbourne.</p><p>
</p><p>
"I am not a pure sprinter like Mark Renshaw [team HTC], but I will do what I can leading to the final kilometres. I have track skills and I know how to ride in a sprint. My job is to get Allan to be with Renshaw or the other lead-out men in the final kilometres."</p><p>
</p><p>
Clarke was visible at the front Sunday for the pre-race criterium. He took Davis to the back end of team Sky's train. In the first stage on Tuesday, he formed part of a five man escape group and took enough bonus seconds to win the young riders' jersey.</p><p>
</p><p>
His mind, though, is only on helping Davis.</p><p>
</p><p>
"I will do what I can for Allan," said Clarke. "As long as he gets a stage win, that will be more important."</p><p>
</p><p>
Astana's sports director at the Tour Down Under, Guido Bontempi agreed.</p><p>
</p><p>
"Andriy Grivko, Valentin Iglinsky and Clarke will help Allan. He has a chance at a stage and the classification," Bontempi explained. "The stages are more or less all the same and suited for Allan, except for Saturday's stage to Willunga that will be the day to decide the classification."</p><p>
</p><p>
Davis has won six stages in Tour Down Under history. He won the race's overall classification in 2009.</p><p>
</p><p>
"Simon is the one who puts me in the position to win," Davis explained. "We need to keep working like that to get a result here because without a team you can't do anything, considering the other sprinters and their teams here."</p><p>
</p><p>
Clarke has a big future, explained Davis.</p><p>
</p><p>
"He's got a good mentality. If you got a good mentality, you can go for a long time," Davis added. "He is a good all around bike rider, he can be good in the one-day classics like Milano-Sanremo, the Ardennes."</p>
More...