Unstoppable Caleb Ewan makes it three with Tour Down Under stage four victory
The Australian once again showed his class as he beat Peter Sagan to a third stage win of the Tour Down Under 2017


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) continued his unstoppable run of form with his third victory of the 2017 Tour Down Under on stage four.
Once again the Australian beat world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) into second place as he did on stage three, with Danny van Poppel (Team Sky) claiming third place.
>>> Watch: Tour Down Under highlights stage four
Much like Thursday's third stage, van Poppel was the sprinter to benefit from the most well organised leadout by his Sky teammates. But while in that stage he simply seemed to miss his cue to go, Friday saw him beaten in a straight up drag race with Ewan who came from behind and was just too fast.
Sagan impressively managed to avoid getting boxed in on the right hand side of the road as he tried to stick to Ewan's wheel, but left himself with too much to do as he had to come round several riders as Ewan attacked.
Watch: highlights of stage four of the 2017 Tour Down Under
The overall classification of the race remains relatively unchanged with race leader Richie Porte (BMC) safely navigating his way to the finish.
Second placed Gorka Izaguirre managed to stay in contention on GC, despite suffering from the wounds of a huge crash he suffered on stage three.
The 149.5km course from Norwood to Campbelltown was played out in familiar style, with a three-man break of Cameron Meyer (UniSA-Australia), Jack Bauer (Quick-Step Floors) and Ondrej Cink (Bahrain-Merida) getting away in the early stages.
They never saw the gap stretch past 1-30 to the peloton though, and the efforts to stay out there took its toll as Cink dropped back with 55km remaining.
Meyer and Bauer then worked together to stay out for a further 30km before it was too much for Meyer, before New Zealander Bauer put in a fine solo effort to hold off the sprinters teams to just 4km remaining, when they made the catch.
But once again it was Ewan's day to celebrate victory, however he'll be playing teammate to the climbers tomorrow, as the race heads towards its queen stage to Willunga Hill where the GC will likely be finalised.
Results
Tour Down Under 2017, stage four: Norwood to Campbelltown (149.5km)
1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott, in 3-45-19
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky
4. Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Abu Dhabi
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data
6. Baptiste Planckeart (Bel) Katusha
7. Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
8. Callum Scotson (Aus) UniSA-Australia
9. Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar
10. Enrico Battaglin (Ita) LottoNL-Jumbo, all same time
Overall classification after stage four
1. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing, in 14-20-18
2. Gorka Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar, at 20 secs
3. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott, at 22s
4. Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 24s
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data, at 27s
6. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing, at 29s
7. Luis León Sánchez (Esp) Astana
8. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Abu Dhabi
9. Rafael Valls (Esp) Lotto Soudal
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, all same time
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
I'd choose the club ride over going solo, any day
Cycling Weekly's Digital Editor refuses to share a point of view with one of our regular contributors
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
-
Back from bankruptcy, Mavic opens new facility in Vermont, teases new product
In addition to re-establishing sales in North America, the historic brand will release new wheels in the coming months
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
'I kinda think I won' - was Caleb Ewan robbed of victory in Belgian one-day race?
The Lotto Dstny rider lost out to Gerben Thijssen in a close photo finish call on Sunday
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Another photo finish, another runner-up ride for Caleb Ewan
Less than two weeks after Tim Merlier bested him by the thinnest of margins in the UAE Tour, Ewan takes second behind Gerben Thijssen in a photo finish at the GP Jean-Pierre Monseré
By Dane Cash 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
-
How to watch the Tour Down Under 2023
Don't miss the first WorldTour race of the season in Australia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tour Down Under 2023: Route, stages, and startlist guide
Taking a look at all the stages for both the men's and women's Australian race
By Tom Thewlis Published