Cycling: Caleb Ewan (Lotto – Soudal) can look forward to his second stage win at the Tour Down Under. The Australian won the fourth stage in the bunch sprint ahead of Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) and André Greipel (Israel Start-Up Nation). Daryl Impey (Mitchelton - Scott) was able to make up three seconds on leader Richie Porte (Trek - Segafredo) in the overall standings thanks to the intermediate sprints.
Daryl Impey grabs three bonus seconds
After yesterday's arrival of the punchers, today's Tour Down Under saw the sprinters take center stage again. The fourth stage covered 152,8 kilometers from Norwood to Murray Bridge. No breakaway group managed to escape until the first two intermediate sprints at Cudlee Creek and Williamstown, as the Mitchelton-Scott team was determined not to let anyone get away. There, Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) secured three valuable bonus seconds, reducing his overall deficit from six to three seconds. After that, five riders launched a breakaway. Among them was American Joey Rosskopf (CCC). He had already been part of the leading group on stages 1 and 2 and was aiming to defend his lead in the mountains classification. He succeeded, taking maximum points on the 5,4 percent gradient of Lead Prospect Hill.
🎥 An update in what's happened in the race so far since the riders left Norwood in @southaustralia Stage 4 🚴🏻♂️ #tourdownunder #raceupdate pic.twitter.com/TG6Vfut9rT
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 24, 2020
Wind edges to the south
Just like the wearer of the polka dot jersey, his companions also stood no chance against the charging peloton. Canadian James Piccoli (Israel Start-Up Nation), Belgian Laurens De Vreese (Astana), and Spaniards Jorge Arcas and Sergio Samitier (Movistar) visibly suffered from the wind conditions. Initially a relatively harmless tailwind, it later blew sideways into the peloton. The change of course to the south would make the remaining 30 kilometers or so difficult for the professionals. Numerous attempts by various teams to create a significant split in the peloton failed.
Bennett too early - Ewan wins again
So it came down to a more or less classic bunch sprint. After some rather tricky corners, Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) sprinted to his second victory at the Tour Down Under ahead of Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick-Step). Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) completed the podium. Tomorrow, the professionals will cover 149,1 kilometers from Glenelg to Victor Harbor in the Tour Down Under. Despite the Kerby Hill climb, with an average gradient of 5,9 percent, 20,0 kilometers from the finish, a bunch sprint is expected.
Caleb Ewan is the Stage 4 winner 💪
The Aussie edges past Sam Bennett in a thrilling finish. #tourdownunder | @tourdownunder pic.twitter.com/CC38yd34Zh
— 7Sport (@7Sport) January 24, 2020