Cycling: Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) struck. The world champion won stage four of the Tour Down Under sprinting a decimated field. Due to the time bonuses, the Slovak takes the overall lead.
UniSA-Australia with the double attack
Due to the intense heat, the organizers have postponed the start of the fourth stage from Norwood to Uraidla by an hour. Today should be the hardest stage so far for the riders. The heavily wavy profile ruled out a mass sprint and is more suited to rider types like Peter Sagan. However, only the UniSA-Australia team seemed to have a chance of a successful escape. With Alexander Porter and Zakkari Dempster they sent two drivers to the front. Together they drove out a lead of over nine minutes. Behind it was especially exciting in the fight for the bonus second in both intermediate sprints. Whereby: It wasn't really that exciting, because Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) didn't give anyone a chance at all. Have just before the first intermediate sprint André Greipel and thomas degendt organized a pursuit by Team Lotto Soudal as a duo, but they let the peloton catch them again.
Another 3rd place "win" for @eliaviviani at the second https://t.co/XSOEIp5tcO Sprint markers. further up the road, @AlexjhPorter took 1st and Zak Dempster 2nd.#TDU pic.twitter.com/UM0mVG3e7n
— Santos Tour Down Under 🐨🚴 (@tourdownunder) 19 January 2018
Sagan celebrates his first Tour Down Under victory
The Mitchelton-Scott team organized the main part of the pursuit, so of course the two escapees had no chance. The Australian team did so despite themselves Caleb ewan didn't calculate any chances, as he admitted before the start: “Maybe some people don't know how hard this mountain is. It might be something for puncheurs, but certainly not for me. I will wear no more ocher tonight.” He was right, because the hill made for a selection. Sky initially took command, then the first attacks followed. A small group around Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) and Richie porte (BMC) broke away, but was caught again shortly before the finish. Finally it came to the sprint Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) on the left side of the road. He pulled Peter Sagan with him on his rear wheel. The World Champion then had little trouble passing the South African on the right and winning the stage. Peter Sagan takes over the leader's jersey as well as the points' jersey. Still leads in the mountains classification Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data), although Richie Porte is now just 16 points behind him and could pass tomorrow.
🌈 SAGAN WINS 🌈
What a brilliant setup and finish from world champion @petosagan to claim @BupaAustralia Stage 4. He measured that perfectly 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼#TDU pic.twitter.com/4oOClhYVke— Santos Tour Down Under 🐨🚴 (@tourdownunder) 19 January 2018
Result of the 4st stage of the Tour Down Under 2018
Tour Locations | Driver | Country | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Peter Sagan | Slovakia | Bora, hansgrohe | 3:21:07 |
2. | Daryl Impey | South Africa | Mitchelton-Scott | st |
3. | Luis Leon Sanchez | Spain | Astana | st |
4. | Diego Ulissi | Italy | UAE Team Emirates | st |
5. | Jay McCarthy | Australia | Bora, hansgrohe | st |
Overall standings after stage 4 of the 2018 Tour Down Under
Tour Locations | Driver | Country | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Peter Sagan | Slovakia | Bora, hansgrohe | 14:19:49 |
2. | Daryl Impey | South Africa | Mitchelton-Scott | + 0: 02 |
3. | Jay McCarthy | Australia | Bora, hansgrohe | + 0: 09 |
4. | Luis Leon Sanchez | Spain | Astana | + 0: 10 |
5. | Diego Ulissi | Italy | UAE Team Emirates | + 0: 14 |
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