January 1 - January 20, McLaren Vale, Australia, Road - WorldTour
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Hello and welcome to our live coverage from stage 5 of the Santos Tour Down Under, the first race of the 2019 UCI WorldTour. Today's stage will take the peloton 151.5km from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill.
1 Jasper Phlipsen (Bel) UAE Team Emirates 3:37:00 2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 3 Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 4 Jens Debesschere (Bel) Katusha-Alpecin 5 Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 6 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida 7 Cees Bol (Ned) Team Sunweb 8 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data 9 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky 10 Davide Ballerini (Ita) Astana Pro Team
GC after stage 5:
1 Patrick Bevin (NZl) CCC Team 17:00:25 2 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:07 3 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:16 4 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data 0:00:26 5 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 6 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Katusha-Alpecin 7 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 8 Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb 9 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky 10 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First Pro Cycling
Hello race fans! We're just under an hour away from the start of the final stage at the Tour Down Under, where the 2019 champion will be decided with a final ascent up Willunga Hill.
Today's stage, with its two trips up Willunga Hill in the final 25km, will certainly be a fitting climax for the race, but yesterday's penultimate stage wasn't short of drama.
First off, race leader Paddy Bevin crashed inside the final 10km and had to chase to regain the field and hang onto the ochre jersey. The battered and blooded Bevin kept the jersey, and his team recently revealed he cleared medical tests for a concussion and will be able to defend his lead today. You can read Daniel Benson's report about the team's statement on Bevin HERE
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The big drama at yesterday's finish, of course, was Caleb Ewan's relegation and Jasper Philipsen's ascent to the top step of the podium.
The race jury decided that Ewan's use of his noggin to try and make room for himself violated the rules, and they relegated the Lotto Soudal sprinter to the back of the group - 83rd place - and elevated his UAE Team Emirates rival to the win.
You can check out the full race report, photo gallery and results HERE
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The decision to relegate Ewan caused no shortage of controversy, with no less than race commentator Robie McEwan questioning the jury's call. Read McEwan's comments HERE
Lotto Soudal director Mario Aerts was definitely not pleased with the decision.
"It's unfair to me," Aerts told the media after the race jury had made their decision.
"I went with the jury to see the helicopter images because they said that Philipsen was on Sagan's wheel, but I disagreed and we saw that it was Ewan on Sagan's wheel. Philipsen came underneath to get Viviani's wheel. After the turn, Sagan passes again to get Viviani's wheel with Ewan. Philipsen tries to get between Ewan and Sagan, and of course to protect himself from going into the barriers, he uses his head. He said to me, 'What could I do to stay upright? I couldn't use my hands.' I find it very light."
On a more positive note, Mitchelton-Scott director Matt White spoke to us after the stage about the peloton's decision to wait for Bevin because no one wanted to take the leader's jersey due to a crash. You can read the article HERE
Speaking of Bevin, we caught up with the race leader this morning for a quick comment:
"The body is a bit sore. I hit the deck pretty hard. It's not ideal coming into today, but at this point we can't undo it. We'll still race to win this bike race.
"Look, I'm going to go out there and try and hang onto the jersey for as long as possible. At this point, I've built up a buffer over the last five days, and they're going to have to come and take it off me. At this point I'll give it everything I have to defend this lead."
Today is considered the Queen stage for good reason: Two ascents up Willunga Hill inside the final 25km, including the finish at the top on the second trip, will be decisive.
The stage starts in McLaren with a short .5km neutral roll out. Once the flag drops, the peloton will head south toward Willunga, starting a 39.7km loop they will traverse three times.
This opening loop will then take them west toward the coastal towns of Aldinga Beach and Snapper point - site of the day's two intermediate sprints - and then Port Willunga before turning back inland to Aldinga and back up to McLaren to complete the circle.
After three laps of this loop, the race will start a fourth toward Willunga again, but this time when the race reaches the town, rather than turn right toward the coast again, the riders will veer left onto Willunga Hill Road for the first trip up the iconic Tour Down Under climb.
After the first ascent up Willunga with 22.4km left to race, the riders will start a new counterclockwise loop that will eventually bring them back to Willunga to start the second and final trip up the climb, where the winner will be decided.
Richie Porte, who is currently among a large group of riders 26 seconds behind Bevin, wh lead Daryl Impey by seven second and Luis Leon Sanchez by 16, says he doesn't believe Bevin can win the overall, but Impey can. Read the entire article HERE
The intermediate sprints animated much of the early gong in yesterday's race because of the time bonuses on offer. Impey and Bevin were in a battle royale for the bonuses, with each rider eventually canceling the other out.
The two intermediate sprints in today's race come much later in the day, however, with the first coming in Snapper Point along the coast 63.4km into the day, and the other coming in Snapper Point at 103.4km.
The day's KOMs are limited to Willunga Hill - the first time up at 129.1km and the second on the finish line.
And we're rolling for a brief neutral roll out!!
We spoke with race director Mike Turtur about today's stage:
“It is important as a race that we keep everyone guessing and the riders challenged. We can’t be complacent, and Willunga Hill as the Be Safe Be Seen MAC Stage 6 finish will bring a new element to the race this year – we expect even more fans on the hill.”
151km remaining from 151km
The flag has dropped and the attacks are already flying
It's the last day to make the breakaway at the 2019 Tour Down Under, and it's safe to say there's a lot of interest.
There's a group of eight forming off the front. We're trying to get bib numbers as the group solidified. Thomas De Gent is in there for sure!
There are seven riders in the lead, dangling just ahead of the peloton. The lead group includes:
Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) Nick White (UniSA-Australia) Alex Dowsett (Katusha Alpecin) Danny van Poppel (Jumbo-Visma) Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) Gediminas Bagdonas (AG2R La Mondiale) Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar)
Astana,with Luis Leon Sanchez third overall, appear to be determined to bring the move back.
But then they quickly gave up after a teammate came forward. This should help the break stick.
140km remaining from 151km
The bunch is now spread across the road. This will be the break o' the day.
This is a very long, straight road as the bunch heads toward the coast on this first 39.7km loop that they'll circle three times.
The gap has hit 1 minute
Koen de Kort is in the front of the bunch for Trek-Segafredo and team leader Richie Porte, who is 26 seconds behind Bevin in the general classification
"I'm not joking, I know the lyrics of every Men at Work song there is." #TourDownUnder https://t.co/8NaKbI7qm3
The riders are on Esplanade Road heading toward Aldinga Beach. It's a beautiful coastal road on bluebird day in South Australia
A massive crowd to cheer the riders on in Snapper Point as the breakaway rolls through. There'll be a sprint here next time 'round.
Trek-Segafredo's Kiel Reijnen is in the front now, along with EF Education First's Mitch Docker
Our Josh Evans got a photo of a lightly bandaged Bevin's this morning at the start in McLaren Vale
The gap to out seven leaders is 2:30. Once again, those riders are:
Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) Nick White (UniSA-Australia) Alex Dowsett (Katusha Alpecin) Danny van Poppel (Jumbo-Visma) Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) Gediminas Bagdonas (AG2R La Mondiale) Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar)
Team Sunweb's Jai Hindley was chatty at the start this morning. Here's what the 22-year-old Australian had to say:
"It's the last day and a hilltop finish, so I mean everyone's going to be going full gas to the finish line today. There's a lot of guys who need to make up a little bit of time, so it's going to be pretty aggressive on Willunga and hopefully be a good race.
"[Chris] Hamilton's in a really good shape in the moment, so hopefully we can set it up for him on the final climb."
Chris Hamilton, who is currently eighth overall was also on hand this morning. He spoke about what he can do to improve his position:
"I just need to cause chaos! We've said it before and the wind direction might not be ideal, but we've seen riders ride away previously. The last five years actually. I think Richie [Porte] will definitely be the guy to watch, and I'll keep a close eye and see what happens.
"It's not only the hill you've got to watch out for, the run in can be quite chaotic, especially if it's a smaller group and one team has a lot of riders left, they could do some damage in the wind. That's one point you've got to keep sharp on.
"It's just an unreal race, everyone loves it and I in particular like racing on the hill and the crowds are just unreal. I'm excited."
112km remaining from 151km
The ga is just over three minutes
Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) crashed hard in training before the race even started. He said this morning that he's been feeling better everyday:
"I feel a bit better than I did a few days ago. I've been recovering from the training crash I had last week. I still have some pain on my left side, but in the race I will do the best result I can, so I would love to do a good race.
"For sure Willunga is not a good climb for a climber like me, but for the start of the season it's good."
98km remaining from 151km
Our leaders are about 10km from the first intermediate sprint with gap hovering around 3 minutes
Defending champion Daryl Impey is currently second overall, seven seconds behind Paddy Bevin. Here's what he had to say this morning:
"It's difficult to say [what will happen today]. I think for the guys leading on the front it's going to be decided on the climb. We'll be on our toes and take those opportunities if they come, but I think there's no secret today, it's about going up Willunga as fast as you can and what will be will be.
"The team's ridden really well. We focused at the beginning of the race on saving energy, which was good and then obviously yesterday taking responsibility so we ticked that box.
"The guys have been fantastic this week and given me every opportunity to go for the win here, and it would be fantastic to win back-to-back. For it to happen, the stars will have to line up, and I have to have good legs today and just do my best."
Michael Woods (EF Education First) is another rider hoping for big things on Willunga Hill. Woods was third on the Willunga Hill stage in 2016, his first year on a WorldTour team with Cannondale.
He's currently 10th overall among the large group that sits 26 seconds back. he was a main protagonist on the Corkscrews, loch bodes well for later today. Here's what the up-beat Canadian had to say this morning:
"I'm feeling good today and it's the last stage of a great race. It's not gone the way I'd hoped it to go in terms of time. I've lost time to guys like Paddy [Bevin] and Daryl Impey, but my team's ridden really well so hopefully I can honour our jersey.
"I reconned the descent after the Corkscrew a couple of times. Certainly, descending hasn't been one of my strongest points just because I'm still quite new to this sport. I'm never going to have the bike-handling skills of Peter Sagan or a guy like Julian Alaphilippe.
"However, I spent this off season with a downhill coach, a former downhill mountain biker, and the guy was like a Jedi on the descents. He rode behind me with a radio in and was guiding me throughout corners. It was amazing the improvements I made in those few sessions I had with him."
90km remaining from 151km
The leaders are on Esplanade Road in Aldinga Beach again heading toward the first intermediate sprint at Snapper Point. Bonus seconds of three, two and one are on the line, along with points. 2km to the sprint with a gap of 3:40
The leaders rode through the sprint uncontested with van Poppel on the front. None of these riders is a danger to the overall or in the hunt for the points jersey.
The peloton rides through Aldinga Beach on the way to Snapper Point
79km remaining from 151km
The gap is holding strong at 3:30. The next sprint comes with 48km remaining.
Rohan Dennis is in his first race with Bahrain-Merida. He's currently 18th overall, also 26 seconds behind Bevin. Here's what he had to say this morning.
"That run-in on the way to Willunga is pretty dodgy. They like to put it in the gutter every year. It's all the speed but it comes back together. It's always dangerous but we just need to stay at the front and have Pozzovivo in a good position, too.
"We're in for the little fella [Pozzovivo], but there's also Michael Woods. He's showed he has good form, and George Bennett as well did well up the Corkscrew. There's a bit of a headwind up the climb, so we'll try to follow them as well and do well for Pozzovivo."
Mat Hayman (Mitchelton-Scott) is riding his last pro race today, and he spoke at the start about his retirement, which begins this afternoon. He also came down in the same crash that saw race leader Patrick Bevin hit the deck on Saturday's fifth stage to Strathalbyn. He won't miss that side of the sport:
"When you're scrubbing yourself down with Betadine [antiseptic liquid] in the shower, you just think, 'Yeah – maybe it is time to give it away.' I was feeling too good this week, I think! But the last time I finished in Strathalbyn, I walked away with a broken collarbone, and so when I was rolling on the ground at the side of the road there yesterday, I was just hoping I'd be OK, because I really wanted to ride this stage today.
"I'm still on a high, and still focused on the race at the moment. We still want to win this race [with Daryl Impey], and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. This has been an absolute fabulous week with the boys, and whatever happens today, the best of luck to Paddy Bevin because that was a vicious way to go down yesterday, and so I hope he's all right.
"We want a great race up the hill, and to put on a great show for the fans, and I'll worry about the retirement after the race today."
68km remaining from 151km
It's still Kiel Reijnen (Trek-Segafredo) and Mitch Docker (EF Education First) ticking off the kilometres at the front of the peloton. Current gap is 3:15.
EF Education First director Tom Southam spoke with our Australian Editor Ellis Bacon about Paddy Bevin's stage 5 crash and the peloton's reaction. He says nobody tried to benefit from Bevin's misfortune and goes on to explain cyclings 'unwritten' rules. Read the article HERE
60km remaining from 151km
There are still 60km to go, but they're already waiting on Willunga Hill.
Josh Evans
A group of riders has been gapped off the back of the peloton. It's not clear how it happened, but the a lack of attention after the feed zone probably opened up the gap.
The race has gone through Willunga again and turned toward the coast for the last of the big loops. The next time they come through Willunga, they'll turn off onto Willunga Hill Road for the first time up the climb and another 22.4km loop for the finish at the top.
More good news. Santos announced last night that it has extended sponsorship of the race for three more years!
53km remaining from 151km
Once again, the seven riders in the breakaway with a current gap of 3:30 are:
Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) Nick White (UniSA-Australia) Alex Dowsett (Katusha Alpecin) Danny van Poppel (Jumbo-Visma) Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) Gediminas Bagdonas (AG2R La Mondiale) Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar)
It's been mostly Trek, EF and sometimes Team Sky handling the chase so far. Now Astana has thrown a rider in.
50km remaining from 151km
The leaders are 2km from the second-and-final sprint in Snapper Point. They rolled through the first sprint and let Van Poppel take top points. Gap is 3:40
47km remaining from 151km
The peloton is on a beautiful stretch of road along the coast, led by Docker.
Van Poppel "won" the second sprint again, and so overtakes Elia Viviiani for third place in the points competition.
The finish line on Willunga Hill awaits.
Pardon, us, with Van Poppel's second win in Snapper Point, he moved into second place in the points classification behind Bevin, overtaking Peter Sagan.
Richie Porte is a five-time winner on Willunga Hill, but the Trek-Segafredo leader can expect stiff competition today from Wout Poels (Team Sky), Michael Woods (EF Education First) and George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) - his companions in the brief breakaway on the Corkscrew climb duding stage 4. There's also the GC trio of Bevin, Impey and Luis Leon Sanche, who are 26, 19 and 10 second ahead of Porte, et al, respectively. It should be a good show. This is what Porte had to say this morning about any pressure he feels to defend his Willunga crow:
"No pressure at all. I think it's going to be every man for himself in the final. It's always going to be the same. We've still got to get through the stage and get there, so it's going to be a hard one. It's a classy field this year, but I'm looking forward to it.
"Never say never, but I think we're going to look more for the stage and see how we go up it the first time. If it's a race up there the first time, it's going to be harder and suit the climbers like myself, Michael Woods, George Bennett and Wout Poels. I think it's good for us if it's hard. I think it'll be a good battle."
35km remaining from 151km
The leaders headed back toward McLaren Vale and will then turn toward Willunga. Their gap is down to 2:40.
Dowsett has pulled the pin! He's dropped from the breakaway.
33km remaining from 151km
The leaders are riding through McLaren Vale
26km remaining from 151km
The gap to the leaders is below two minutes now at 1:40. The peloton can see the leaders on this long straight road leading into the town of Willunga.
25km remaining from 151km
Mitchelton-Scott is leading the peloton into Willunga as the breakaway is coming part at the very bottom of the climb
Only White and Van Poppel are out fron of the bunch as Team Sky leads the peloton
Ellipsoïde is pacing Wout Poels on the front of the bunch. They're pulling away, actually, and dropping riders.
BOOM! Bevin has blown and is drifting back. He can't hold the pace. His injuries must have been worse than he let on.
24km remaining from 151km
Bevin's teammates are now waiting, but he'll have a time time holding the jersey now. The peloton is gone.
23km remaining from 151km
Ellisonde is driving the pace on the front with Rohan Dennis on his wheel and a long train of suffering behind.
23km remaining from 151km
Nick White is struggling to stay out front to get the KOM. They're on his heels.
22km remaining from 151km
They've got him. Ellissonde and Poels roll past White before the summit. The Team Sky duo have a gap on the bunch as they approach the KOM on Willunga Hill Poels checks back for the bunch, which out of sight as Ellssonde rides through ahead of his team leader. White hangs on for third, protecting his teammate Jason Lea's lead in the KOM classification
Poels and Ellissonde sit up to wait for the select lead group to catch them. It's about 25 riders or so now after the first time up Willunga.
Bevin, being paced forward by a teammate, is in a trailing group with Caleb Ewan.
18km remaining from 151km
Moviatar's Héctor Carretero has Attacked the now lead group that has grown as riders catch back on over a flat section of the course before a descent.
Carretero is not one of the danger men in the GC group that is 26 seconds back overall. He's not a threat to the general classification, so he's getting some leash.
11km remaining from 151km
Héctor Carretero (Movistar) has been joined by Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tomasz Marczynski (Lotto Soudal) in the lead as the group behind continues to grow. The lead trio now have a dozen seconds.
9km remaining from 151km
Aside from the trio up front, it's the calm before the storm back in the field.
Bevin was more than two minutes down going over Willunga the first time.
6km remaining from 151km
The bunch has pulled back the leaders, and Carretero attacks again. He's got another rider with him, but the effort looks doomed
5km remaining from 151km
Back together. It will be a large group going into the bottom go Willunga Hill.
4km remaining from 151km
Astana has come forward for Sanchez. The teams wants to make sure their man has the best crack possible at the climb.
3km remaining from 151km
Mitchelton-Scott are challenging for the front, but Astana still controls.
They're in Willunga. They'll turn left onto Willunga Hill road soon.
EF has a rider on the front, as do Trek, team Sky and Mitchelton. Ellissonde is second wheel behind teammate Van Baarle. The Team Sky riders's leader is sitting back a few riders.
Woods is behind Sanchez, while Impey is back in 16th or 17th. Porte is on Woods' wheel.
1km remaining from 151km
Van Barle, Ellissonde, Sanchez, Woods, Porte, Hamilton ...
Van Baarle pulls off and Ellissonde is gong away.
Now Poels has gone and is riding up to Ellisonde, who waited. The Team Sky duo are now opening a gap just as they did the last time up the climb.
Porte goes! Hamilton tags onto his wheel, followed by Woods, Bennett and Pozzovivo.
Porte caught Poels at 1km to go and is trying to drop him. Poels is hanging on, the others are trying to get on terms
Porte has dropped Poels! He's sprinting to what will be his sixth win on Willunga Hill. he needs to win by 10 seconds to win the overall from Impey.
Porte wins the stage!
He's followed by Poels and an amazing Daryl Impey, who took third and will win his second consecutive Tour Down Under!
Rohan Dennis was fourth. It looks like Sanchez in fifth.
Stage 6 top 10
1 Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo 3:30:14 2 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky 3 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 4 Rohan Dennis (Aus) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:03 5 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:06 6 Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:00:10 7 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First Pro Cycling 0:00:15 8 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:17 9 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 10 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
Final General Classification:
Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 20:30:42 2 Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:13 3 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky 0:00:17 4 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:19 5 Rohan Dennis (Aus) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:26 6 Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:00:33 7 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First Pro Cycling 0:00:38 8 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:40 9 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 10 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
