Cycling: The Seven Year Itch! Richie Porte (Trek – Segafredo) missed his seventh straight win on Willunga Hill. Outsider Matthew Holmes (Lotto – Soudal) secured this. However, Richie Porte can be happy about the overall victory for the second time. The podium is completed by Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) and sensationally the German Simon Geschke (CCC). Jonasutsch (EF) also presented himself strongly today, who, as a breakaway on the final climb, was even the sole leader for a short time.
26 men in the leading group of the day
Who will win the 2020 Tour Down Under? This question was to be answered today on the 151,5-kilometer stage from McLaren Vale to the summit of Willunga Hill. But before the big showdown of the favorites, no fewer than 26 breakaway riders dominated the proceedings. Among those in the huge leading group were the Germans Juri Hollmann (Movistar), Jonas Rutsch (EF), André Greipel (Israel Start-Up Nation), and Rick Zabel (Israel Start-Up Nation), as well as the Austrian Marco Haller (Bahrain – McLaren).
Together, the breakaway riders managed to quickly extend their lead to over four minutes. This allowed Joey Rosskopf (CCC) to at least virtually don the ochre leader's jersey. Currently wearing the polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains), the American had actually joined the group to secure maximum points on the first pass of the finish line on Willunga Hill. However, given the large lead, he likely dreamed of an even greater success.
Joey Rosskopf wins the mountains classification
To manage the gap to the breakaway group, Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) let his teammates do the work. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) proved particularly helpful once again today . The world champion acted as the pace-setter for many kilometers. This allowed the peloton to gradually reduce the gap – and virtually reclaim the leader's jersey from Joey Rosskopf .
However, the mountain jersey could not be snatched away from Joey Rosskopf. After he crossed Willunga Hill first with 22,4 kilometers to go at the finish line, his victory in this classification was certain. The 30-year-old – who has already contested five Grand Tours – is celebrating perhaps the greatest success of his WorldTour career to date. But the American wanted more with a lead of more than two minutes.
@theTiser Advertiser Ride of the Day is awarded to Joey Rosskopf 🇺🇸from @CCCProTeam 🏆 #tourdownunder #advertiser #rideoftheday pic.twitter.com/qmOPPz44wh
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 26, 2020
Jonasrutsch attacked
Despite having their own leader in Daryl Impey , Team Mitchelton-Scott held back from the chase, leaving all the work to Trek-Segafredo. Only a few kilometers before the final climb did the Australian team increase their pace. This reduced the gap to less than a minute, and Joey Rosskopf 's dream was finally over.
Jonas Rutsch (EF), on the other hand, was living his dream. Barely at the foot of Willunga Hill, he attacked together with Luke Rowe (Ineos). A short time later, the German – actually considered a future classics specialist – even dropped his companion. But when the Willunga Hill, with its average gradient of 7,5 percent, presented its toughest sections, Jonas Rutsch was caught by several breakaway riders and dropped back through the field.
Onto the climb we go! 3km with 1'00" to go as slip attacks Rowe! #TourDownUnder
— ByTheMinute Cycling 🚲 (@ByTheMinCycle) January 26, 2020
Richie Porte leaves everyone - except Matthew Holmes
Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) piloted his captain up Willunga Hill. Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) soon fell behind. When Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) launched his attack, Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) also had to let him go. Everything pointed to another victory for the "King of Willunga," as Richie Porte flew past all the breakaway riders and towards his sixth consecutive win on Willunga Hill.
But one rider simply refused to be shaken off. Matthew Holmes (Lotto – Soudal) initially latched onto Porte's rear wheel, only to then accelerate even further. Richie Porte couldn't respond. Nevertheless, he could still be pleased, as it would be enough for the overall victory. The stage win, however, went to Briton Matthew Holmes, who at the age of 26 was competing in his first WorldTour race and had ridden for the Continental team Madison Genesis last season.
Simon Geschke is third overall
Amidst all the breakaways, Matthew Holmes' sensational victory, and Richie Porte 's second consecutive title win , the other podium positions almost went unnoticed. But the battle for the podium at the 2020 Tour Down Under came down to mere fractions of a second! Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) ultimately secured second place. Simon Geschke (CCC) finished third, also 25 seconds behind. The German managed to hold off the Ineos duo of Rohan Dennis and Dylan van Baarle in the nail-biting finish. The home team, Mitchelton-Scott, must have been particularly disappointed. Daryl Impey and Simon Yates finished only sixth and seventh, respectively. Austria's Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain-McLaren) finished tenth.
While Joey Rosskopf (CCC) takes the King of the Mountains title, Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) wins the points classification. Pavel Sivakov (Ineos) is honored as the best young rider. Richie Porte's overall victory makes him the first leader in the UCI rankings. The WorldTour continues on February 2nd with the C. Evans Great Ocean Race. But the Vuelta Ciclista a la Provincia de San Juan starts today. Among those competing are Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step), and Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates).
. @richie_porte wins the @tourdownunder for the second time! 🇦🇺🔶 #tourdownunder pic.twitter.com/tI6YqsjrpD
— 7Sport (@7Sport) January 26, 2020