'Still a lot to race for at Tour Down Under,' says Geraint Thomas as Sky GC hopes slip
Team Sky's Sergio Henao double punctured on stage two and saw his chances at an overall win significantly damaged after Richie Porte won the stage
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Team Sky took a hit at the Tour Down Under on Wednesday with title hopeful Sergio Henao enduring a costly mechanical in the second stage that didn't provide all the anticipated fireworks.
The 148.5km run to Paracombe was touted but not proven as the new queen stage of the tour, which Richie Porte (BMC) won to assume race leadership.
Henao double punctured and then desperately chased with teammates for some 40km overall to reconnect with the peloton before it arrived at the first of two hilltop finishes, tipped to decide the general classification of the 19th edition.
“The first few laps were easier than expected,” Geraint Thomas recalled of the circuit start in Stirling.
“I expected it to kick off and have a long, hard day, but for some reason nobody seemed too keen to go in the break.
“We started riding with BMC the last time up to Stirling and then Sergio punctured at probably the worst moment possible.
"All the boys committed, we all waited at different times and managed to get him back. I was looking after him at the end on the last kicker and unfortunately, he kept losing my wheel a little bit.
"I didn’t know where he was, was drifting back looking for him. He was just a bit too far back and probably gassed as well from the long chase.”
Henao did limit his losses, finishing 19 seconds behind Porte in 12th place. The 29-year-old, who was third overall at the race last year, currently sits 15th on the general classification - 29 seconds in arrears.
Thomas said the misfortune had not thwarted Sky's objectives, which are part of a two-prong plan with sprinter Danny van Poppel, 23, also vying for stage wins.
“It’s all to play for on Willunga, for the podium,” Thomas said of Saturday’s traditional queen stage.
“And we’ve still got flat days with Danny. I think we’ve still got a lot to race for. For sure, overall is still possible, podium, and every stage. We’ll go full gas to try and win them as well.”
Van Poppel was second in the People's Choice Classic prelude criterium and will have another chance to sprint for line honours when the tour continues to Victor Harbor on Thursday.
"He came to us last year a bit green, even though he rode the Tour de France when he was 19," sports director Brett Lancaster said.
"You've got to realise how young he is still. He really stepped up last year. He's not at his ideal weight at the moment, he's been doing quite a bit of gym. He likes the harder stages - Victor Harbor will suit him more."
Thank you for reading 10 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
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.
-
-
Faster and better wet weather grip: Goodyear launches second gen road tire range
Five years since launching its first generation road tire line, Ohio-based tire company, Goodyear, today unveiled its latest generation of road tires, said to be 35% fasters ad 19% grippier.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Meet The Joker, a brake-less, chain-less crit racing bike
New York City-based Priority Bicycles today launched a fixed-gear, 70T belt-drive criterium and track racing machine
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'It won’t be difficult to beat my 2022 Classics results'
Ineos Grenadiers' multi-format star ready for central role in one-day racing this Spring
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jay Vine is more than a stage hunter and no Willunga works: Five things we learned from the Tour Down Under
The WorldTours are back, and some riders and teams hit the ground running, while others were absent
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Phil Bauhaus outsprints Caleb Ewan to win stage one of Tour Down Under
The German recovered from an earlier crash to beat Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews in a bunch sprint
By Sophie Smith • Published
-
Alberto Bettiol wins Tour Down Under prologue, Brown claims women's race title
The Italian made the best of dry conditions before the weather turned and says the real race starts tomorrow
By Sophie Smith • Published
-
Tour Down Under 2023: Seven contenders to watch out for
Multiple big names from the men's and women's WorldTour will be beginning the new season in the coming days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
How to watch the Tour Down Under 2023
Don't miss the first WorldTour race of the season in Australia
By Tom Thewlis • Published