Women’s Tour Stage 4: Adelaide

Final day of racing on a tight, fast criterium circuit served up a scorcher of a finish to the Women’s Tour. Kirsten Wild (Cyclance Pro Cycling) unleashed a fearsome blast of power and speed to grab stage win number two and clinched third step on the overall podium. Wiggle High5’s Annette Edmondson rane Wild close and  Chloe Hosking (Ale Cipollini) rounded out the podium.

Team classification winners Orica-Scott used all their skills to steer Amanda Spratt safely through the corners to finally claim the leaders jersey she has worn since stage one. Janneke Ensing (Ale Cippolini) finished second at +25secs, with Wild at +40secs. Ale Cippolini will be pleased with their debut, they’ll also be taking home the Points jersey with Hosking and the Mountains with Ensing. My ride of the day goes to Canyon SRAM’s young gun Alexis Ryan. Four seconds off the lead in the Young Rider’s competition yesterday, the team came out guns blazing today and she took 3 of the 4 bonus sprints to claim that title. We LOVE that drive and passion.

A selection of winners galore – best podium prize is definitely the boomerang!

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This is what it means…

Photo of the day…

Can’t get enough of women’s racing? Here’s your next fix, and by golly it’s LIVE people…

Full report at Ella CyclingTips.

Race Website  Race Twitter  and also here for Live Updates #TDUWomens

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Unley to Lyndoch  (118.5k)

With temperatures rocketing into the upper 40Cs, the sensible decision was taken en route to shorten the stage. Caleb Ewan kept it cool, low and aero to deliver Orica-Scott the sprint win and the leaders ochre jersey. He’s really starting to click with new lead out man (and ex IAM cat) Roger Kluge. Sky’s Danny van Poppel edged out Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) to complete the podium.

Video highlights… with the Velvet Samurai running shotgun for his teamster.

 

We take our hat off to Astana’s Laurens De Vreese. He rolled off the front of the peloton at 3km, rode solo through the heat for the best part of the race, and came wearily over the line minutes after the main field. Such a feat gained him not only the a trip to the podium for the King of the Mountains jersey, but also for most combative rider – awarded by Jens Voigt!

OOOF!

 

STOP PRESS – Cheer for a Neo News

Winner of our twitter poll, Sky’s Owain Doull, unfortunately could not make the start line at the Tour Down Under. The news that he was feeling unwell ended with an operation to remove his sppendix. Thankfully he is on the mend and we wish him the best and speediest of recoveries – and hope to see him make his debut very soon.

Just as Kenny Elissonde was brought in to replace Owain, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be decking VeloVoice Towers with posters and bunting for two young dudes Ruben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) and Lennard Hofstede (Sunweb). Look out for a post soon.

Full report at Cycling News.

Race Website  Race Twitter  and also here for Live Updates #TDU

Header image: ©Tim De WaeleKT/Tim De Waele/Corbis via Getty Images)