Elia Viviani wins Tour Down Under stage one after superb late sprint
Elia Viviani (Deceuninck - Quick Step) won stage one of the Tour Down Under in Port Adelaide thanks to a superb sprint.
Elia Viviani (Deceuninck - Quick Step) produced a tremendous masterclass in tactical sprinting to win stage one of the Tour Down Under in Port Adelaide.
Just two days after he crashed in the final kilometre at the Down Under Classic, won by his rival Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), the Italian champion showed once again why he was rated as the most prolific sprinter of 2018.
The former track champion came from deep to overtake Max Walscheid (Team Sunweb) just before the finishing line, winning by more than two bike lengths from the German.
The win kick starts his season in perfect fashion and also makes him the first victor of the 2019 men's WorldTour. He will wear the leader's jersey going into stage two, that finishes with a slightly uphill finish in Angaston.
How it happened
Due to the current extreme heat and windy conditions in south Australia, the route of stage one was shortened to 129km, no longer completing a 3.4km finishing circuit in the historic port.
The day's break formed almost immediately, containing Michael Storer (Team Sunweb), Artyom Zakharov (Astana), Patrick Bevin (CCC) and Jason Lae (UniSA-Australia).
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Their advantage over the peloton stretched out to over four minutes at one stage, but they were kept in check, absorbed by the bunch with 38km to go.
A lack of undulations meant that the long, finishing run-in didn't lend itself to any more attacks. While general classification riders were aiming to keep out of trouble on the opening stage, it was the sprinters who were targeting stage victory.
They were greeted with a strong headwind as they approached the final few kilometres: EF Education First-Drapac and Peter Sagan's Bora-Hansgrohe led the peloton as they ticked under five kilometres to go, with Lotto-Soudal and Mitchelton-Scott joining soon after.
But both Ewan's and Viviani's teams were pushed back as they went under the one kilometre inflatable, Sunweb and Bora-Hansgrohe leading their riders at the front.
In what was a scrappy, tight finish that was devoid of pre-race favourites Ewan and Sagan, Danny van Poppel (Jumbo-Visma) looked to be in pole position to secure victory. It was Walscheid, however, who kicked early, lunging into a sizeable lead.
What he didn't see what Viviani charging through the left of the peloton, hugging tight to the barriers and rapidly squeezing past Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-Merida). He tucked in briefly behind Walscheid, swung to the right and powered past the German to win by a comfortable margin after a wonderful display of sprinting.
Waslscheid rode to second, with Viviani's compatriot Jakub Mareczko (CCC) rounding off the podium.
Results
Tour Down Under 2019, stage one: North Adelaide to Port Adelaide (129km)
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck - Quick Step, in 3:19.47
2. Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb
3. Jakub Mareczko (Ita) CCC Team
4. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
5. Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension-Data
6. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE-Emirates
7. Kristoffer Halvoersen (Nor) Team Sky
8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
9. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
10. Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) Groupama-FDJ, all at the same time.
General classification after stage one
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-Quick Step in 3:19.37
2. Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb, at 4secs
3. Patrick Bevin (NZe) CCC Team
4. Michael Storer (Aus) Team Sunweb, both at 5 secs.
5. Jakub Mareczko (Ita) CCC Team, at 6 secs
6. Jason Lea (Aus) UniSA-Australia, at 8 secs
7. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
8. Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension-Data
9. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE-Team Emirates
10. Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Team Sky, all at 10 secs.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
I'm not into cake stops - but - I made an exception to rate five British delicacies in one ride
Of all the cakes named after places in the north-west of England, which is the tastiest? Simon Warren sets out to sample them all in a single epic ride
By Simon Warren Published
-
The Rugby Flyer flies again: the story of the first sub-hour '25' time trial
How one record-breaking bike – and the memory of the man who rode it – live on
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Elia Viviani says helmet 'saved his life' in Paris-Roubaix crash
The Italian abandoned the race after 40km on Sunday, but left without any fractures
By Adam Becket Published
-
French pro cyclist suffering with memory loss after Tour Down Under crash
‘I have no memory of the crash’ says Rudy Molard of Groupama FDJ after incident in Australia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don't know if I'll be at this team or in cycling next year': Julian Alaphilippe on the Giro d'Italia, finding his form, and his relationship with Patrick Lefevere
Frenchman will focus on the Classics and then the Giro d'Italia in his contract year at Quick-Step
By Adam Becket Published
-
There is so much hope for British cycling, despite the domestic scene’s troubles
Stevie Williams’ victory at the Tour Down Under was just the latest breakthrough ride by a Briton, although there might not be a home UCI stage race to perform at soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Oscar Onley, Isaac del Toro proud but disappointed as both miss out on Tour Down Under victory
Scot finishes fourth, Mexican second, as breakthrough weeks end in dismay
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Underestimated' no more: Stevie Williams powers to victory at Tour Down Under
The 27-year-old from Aberystwyth conquered Mount Lofty on Sunday to take overall victory in Australia, his first WorldTour GC win
By Adam Becket Published
-
Stevie Williams 'over the moon' to be in lead at Tour Down Under ahead of 'tough' final stage
The 27-year-old leads the Australian race on count-back, and is hoping to triumph overall on Sunday
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘He’s worked it out’: Oscar Onley meets his high expectations with Willunga Hill stage win at Tour Down Under
The 21-year-old Scot has shown his potential before, but a first win, at WorldTour level too, proved it
By Adam Becket Published