Disclaimer: Because of a wrong team ID in the startlist the SEE Turtles are riding in Ethiopian jerseys. All riders are correct though.
Welcome to Down Under for the Tour of the same name! Stage 1 should be one for the sprinters. The top dogs of the division aren’t here though.
The first three attackers are just let away, so Ju, Tuyizere and Orue will fight for the various points on the way.
Tuyizere wins the first sprint in front of Ju and Orue.
It’s the same order at the second intermediate sprint. This outs Tuyizere in pole position for the white jersey if he finishes with the peloton.
Ju wins the first KoM sprint in front of Orue and Tuyizere.
The break is caught with 44 km to go.
The points at the second (and higher rated) KoM sprint are taken by the domestiques controlling the peloton. Zegklis won’t mind wearing the polka dots tomorrow.
The climb results in a split and though most sprinters are in the front group that doesn’t account for the puncheurs as well! There are some interesting names among those dropped, but we’ll see if the split persists.
It does! And while none of the GC favourites is among those dropped, some outsiders already lose all their chances today. Meanwhile the sprint trains do their work at the front of the peloton.
We’re already in the last km. Demare is the first to launch his sprint. Willwohl is on his wheel.
There are more splits in the very technical finale. Riders like Lagane are caught on the wrong side and will hope the jury will generously don’t award gaps there.
It seems the stage win will be battled out between Demare and Willwohl with 200 m to go. Leadout man Huertas is still in third.
It’s really close in the end, but Demare just makes it to the line!
Boudat takes 3rd in front of Zabel and Zariff.
Huertas, Einhorn, Van Aert, Bol and Waersted complete the top 10.
Congratulations to stage winner and race leader Demare! And there is a gap awarded after the first 61 riders, ending some GC hopes at day 1.
[C1] Tour Down Under 
