Danny van Poppel (Team Sky) won the Jayco Herald Sun Tour prologue time trial on Wednesday, with British team JLT Condor providing second and third placed riders.
The short 2.1-kilometre opening test against the clock in Melbourne suited Dutch sprinter van Poppel's turn of speed, and he came home with a time of two minutes 32.6 seconds to take the early overall race lead. It is both van Poppel's and Team Sky's first victory of the season.
Continental team JLT-Condor started strongly against the WorldTour big hitters, with Australian Brenton Jones and New Zealander Alex Frame both finishing one second adrift of van Poppel to place second and third. British rider Ian Bibby gave JLT its third top 10 spot in eighth.
Defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) put in a solid ride in the event, which stipulated that riders must use regular road bikes rather than TT-specific machines. Froome finished in 26th place, seven seconds down on team-mate van Poppel.
Welshman Luke Rowe (Team Sky) placed just outside the top 10 in 11th place.
“I was focused to win it and nothing else,” said van Poppel after the stage. “I’ve done it and I’m really happy because you’re always searching for the first victory of the team and for myself and I’m happy that I did it.
"It’s good but I hope I can give it to Chris tomorrow. It will be nice if tomorrow is a nice day for Chris and the team so we’ll go full for him."
>>> Chris Froome ready for face-off with Esteban Chaves at Herald Sun Tour
The 2017 Jayco Herald Sun Tour continues on Thursday with the first road stage, a 174.2-kilometre trip from Wangaratta to Falls Creek.
It will be the first chance for those with general classification aspirations – including Froome and rival Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) – to show their hand, as the stage features a long climb to the line.
Result
Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2017, prologue: Melbourne to Melbourne, 2.1km
1. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky, in 2-32
2. Breton Jones (Aus) JLT Condor, at 1 sec
3. Alex Frame (NZl) JLT Condor, at 1 sec
4. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 2 secs
5. Leigh Howard (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport, at 3 secs
6. Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 3 secs
7. Jesse Kerrison (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 3 secs
8. Ian Bibby (GBr) JLT Condor, at 4 secs
9. Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare, at 4 secs
10. Cameron Bayly (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 4 secs
Other
11. Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky, at 4 secs
26. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 7 secs
General classification after prologue
1. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky, in 2-32
2. Breton Jones (Aus) JLT Condor, at 1 sec
3. Alex Frame (NZl) JLT Condor, at 1 sec
4. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 2 secs
5. Leigh Howard (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport, at 3 secs
6. Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 3 secs
7. Jesse Kerrison (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 3 secs
8. Ian Bibby (GBr) JLT Condor, at 4 secs
9. Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare, at 4 secs
10. Cameron Bayly (Aus) IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, at 4 secs
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
-
-
Toyota launches its first electric cargo bike - but it’s only available in France
Available through 300 car dealerships, the bike can carry loads of up to 100kg with a stated range of 60 miles
-
Jonathan Milan 'super happy' after leaving Dylan Groenewegen's crosswinds plan in tatters at Saudi Tour
Jayco AlUla were one of the chief architects of the split, but its Dutch sprinter could not deliver on his team's work
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
‘It’s a good thing and shows progression of the sport’ - Ben Swift hails changes at British Cycling academy
Ineos Grenadier says putting academy riders in with development teams will encourage development of many skills
-
'I know I can do it so I need to make that next level': Ben Turner signs Ineos Grenadiers contract extension
The Classics and another Grand Tour are on the agenda for Doncaster's Big Ben
-
Tom Pidcock unsure whether he will defend cyclocross world title in 2023
“I don’t know yet, crossing in the winter and being good in the classics is a difficult combination” Pidcock said
