Final KM: Santos Tour Down Under Stage 1

We’ve had the cute joey snaps and now it’s time for the racing. The opening stage of the first WorldTour race of the year was one for the fast men. The temperatures soared but who would bring the sizzle to the Santos Tour Down Under?

Stage 1: Port Adelaide to Lyndoch, 145km

Andre Greipel and his Lotto Soudal team delivered a sprint masterclass to give the German his 17th Tour Down Under stage victory. He nabbed the wheel of Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) as he opened to the right before surging through the centre to claim the win. Peter Sagan (BORA hansgrohe) battled through to snatch 3rd from Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors). Greipel holds the ochre leader’s jersey by 4secs from Ewan.

We’re thrilled to see the Gorilla back to winning ways here at VeloVoices Towers.

Video…

Announcing our #YoungDude for the race

Last year we followed Ruben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) and Lennard Hofstede (Sunweb) as they made their debuts. This year we’ve chosen Dimension-Data’s Nickolas Dlamini to cheer for on Aussie roads. The 22 year old South African made a superb start to his professional career – making the break of the day AND claiming podium time as leader in in the KOM competition. #Chapeau

🇦🇺#TDU

"This is the highest level of the sport so I am really excited to be wearing a leader’s jersey in my first race." @nich_dlamini claimed the King of the Mountains jersey at the end of Stage 1 at the @tourdownunder.

📝: https://t.co/r2Rd23eJlI pic.twitter.com/WOKlv32yr9

— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) January 16, 2018

Give Nikolas a follow on Twitter and lets cheer him on.

Fan service…

I just love it when a team goes the extra mile.

@TeamSky @owaindoull @ChrisLawless95 @JonDibben1 C’mon lads, she’s practiced her bidon catching skills as she really really wants a SKY bottle! Please?!? Somewhere between Williamstown and Lyndoch with English and Welsh flags flying! #teamsky #TDU2018 pic.twitter.com/txuRqauH5U

— Nicole Thynne (@NicoleLThynne) January 15, 2018

@TeamSky @owaindoull @JonDibben1 Thank you! Thank you! You’ve made her day. Both very accurately delivered to her sign. Our favourite team just got better! #GoTeamSky #teamskyrocks pic.twitter.com/kESNA7iVrW

— Nicole Thynne (@NicoleLThynne) January 16, 2018

You know it’s hot when…

Bit hot this morning for @Mads__Pedersen & @lxframe … Cooling down by sitting in a esky 😂@tourdownunder @TrekSegafredo #TDU2018 pic.twitter.com/3NfjxdDFit

— Kaitlin de Kort (@kaitlindekort) January 16, 2018

Quote of the Day…

Nathan Haas (Katusha-Alpecin) pinned his GC colours to the mast by hunting for bonus seconds. He also takes the quote-of-the-day prize.

Quote of the week done already. Haas “Porte is down to his birth weight” #TDU

— Matthew Bigos (@mattbigos) January 16, 2018

Richie Porte. All business after signing in for stage one of the Tour Down Under. #TDU @abcgrandstand @abcadelaide pic.twitter.com/yraeQ1IxyT

— Neil Cross (@NJWC17) January 15, 2018

Mr Porte may be lean and mean, but I’ve got a good feeling about Mr Haas. #MidgeTip

Full report at Cycling News.

Race Website Race Twitter #TDU