Where: Adelaide, Australia
When: January 16-21 2018
Rank: UCI WorldTour

Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) won the general classification of the 2018 Tour Down Under after finishing second on stage five, and holding on to his lead following the final sprint stage.

The first stage went to thoroughbred sprinter André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), but the German was the first rider to surrender to the hills preceding the second day’s finish, which was won by Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott). Greipel was able to return to winning ways during the sprint finish on stage six.

Stage three looked like it might be handed to Ewan once again, but a moment’s hesitation in the final 300 metres saw Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) make his move, though Ewan was still able to keep his claim on the leader’s jersey.

Stage four featured the first of two consecutive uphill finishes, with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) sprinting to the victory from a much reduced peloton. With the win came the overall race lead.

The fifth stage saw a familiar winner on Willunga Hill, with Richie Porte (BMC Racing) winning the race’s queen stage in the same way that he has in every year since 2013. However unlike last year, this was not enough to give him the race lead, as Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) fought to limit his losses, meaning that he had the same time as Porte on GC but moved into the ochre jersey on account of his better finishes on previous stages. Impey was able to maintain that lead in stage six, emerging victorious on the GC.

Tour Down Under 2018 General Classification after stage six

1. Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott, in 20-03-34
2. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing, in same time
3. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data, at 16 secs
4. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE-Team Emirates, at 20 secs
5. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
6. Egan Bernal (Col) Team Sky
7. Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain-Merida, all at same time
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 23 secs
9. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo, at same time
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 24 secs

Tour Down Under 2018, stage six

Daryl Impey wins the 2018 Tour Down Under overall. Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA

Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) secured his first General Classification win in three years, claiming the overall at the 2018 Tour Down Under.

The final stage was a sprinter’s race, with the win eventually going to André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal). The German rider sandwiched the race with wins, also claiming first place on the first day.

Greipel was able to accelerate ahead of Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), who finished third third.

Impey finished safely within the pack, to secure the final Ochre jersey.

Read the full report from stage six of the Tour Down Under here 

Tour Down Under 2018, stage five

Richie Porte won on Willunga Hill for the fifth year in succession (Credit: Sunada)

Richie Porte won stage five of the Tour Down Under atop Willunga Hill for the fifth successive year – but it was Daryl Impey who moved into the overall lead with just one day remaining.

Porte attacked with 1,500m remaining, but faced an anxious wait to see if he had moved into the race’s lead. Results after the stage confirmed that he had not, with Impey – who was second on GC before the stage and had 12 seconds advantage to Porte – rolling across the line eight seconds behind Porte, who collected four seconds for winning the stage.

Although level on time, Impey’s second-placed finishes on stage two and four meant that he secured the leader’s jersey on countback, and with just a sprint stage left.

Tour Down Under 2018, stage four

Peter Sagan wins stage four of the 2018 Tour Down Under. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) took over the race lead after sprinting to victory on stage four.

The world champion took control in the tough finish to Uraidla, out-pacing South African Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) to take the victory.

Defending champion Richie Porte (BMC) had been active in the finale, attempting to attack under the kilometre-to-go marker. However, he was reeled in.

Impey attacked towards the finish line, by Sagan simply had more power in his legs, accelerating past him.

>>> Read our full report from stage four of the Tour Down Under here

Tour Down Under 2018, stage three

Elia Viviani at the 2018 Tour Down Under. Photo: Yuzuru SUNADA

Italian Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) capitalised on Caleb Ewan’s (Mitchelton-Scott) hesitation to win the third stage of the 2018 Tour Down Under.

Early in the race, Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension-Data) and Scott Bowden (Uni SA-Australia) broke away – but once the King of the Mountains points were claimed, Dlamini dropped back and left Bowden to be swept up by the peloton.

Attacks in the final 17km were unsuccessful, and with 5km to go Ewan looked in great stead with his Mitchelton-Scott team mates laying out a perfect lead out train.

However, the home favourite found himself ahead of his competitors with 300 metres to go. A monent’s hesitation was all Viviani needed to launch into his sprint and claim the win, whilst Ewan kept hold of the leader’s jersey.

>>> Read our full report from stage three of the Tour Down Under here

Tour Down Under 2018, stage two 

Caleb Ewan wins stage two of the 2018 Tour Down Under. Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA

Stage two of the Tour Down Under went to Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott). The home star beat his team mate Daryl Impey, and also moved into the General Classification lead.

A three rider break went early – consisting of Will Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac), Scott Bowden (University of South Australia) and Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data) –Dlamini was clearly intent on retaining his King of the Mountains lead, which he did.

The leaders were eventually swept up, making room for a sprint, albeit a reduced one with the peloton only 50 riders strong following the climbs and descents along the way.

Ewan reached the line first, followed by Impey and Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe)

>>> See the full report from stage two of the Tour Down Under here

Tour Down Under 2018, stage one

André Greipel wins stage one of the 2018 Tour Down Under. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) claimed the victory on the opening stage of the 2018 Tour Down Under.

The German powerhouse sprinter out-paced Australian Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) to wear the ochre jersey of race leader going into the second day of racing.

The bunch sprint was set up after Will Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac) had been caught by the peloton with around 10km to go. Clarke had earlier been part of a three-rider move alongside Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data) and Scott Bowden (UniSA-Australia).

>>> Full stage one report and results

Tour Down Under 2018 race info

The Tour Down Under returns for its 20th edition and its 11th year as the curtain-raiser of the UCI WorldTour.

Thanks to its position at the very start of the international cycling calendar, the Tour Down Under always enjoys considerable attention from cycling fans across the world, eager to see a bit of bike racing after a few fallow months.

Maybe as a result of those few months without cycling, but the racing always seems entertaining too, and although some parts of the peloton use it as a chance to cruise around and enjoy some good weather, at the front the racing is fierce as riders try to pick up crucial WorldTour points early in the year.

The Tour Down Under stages are generally flat or rolling, with sprinters picking up the majority of the stage wins, but the overall winner is generally decided with the annual summit finish on Willunga Hill.

With Australian riders having enjoyed months of training in the sun while riders from the northern hemisphere have been stuck on their turbo trainers, it’s no surprise that the Tour Down Under has traditionally been dominated by Antipodeans.

Australian riders have won the Tour Down Under 12 times, including the last four editions, with Simon Gerrans holding the record for the most overall wins with four.

The 2018 race is preceded by the single-day People’s Choice Classic criterium race in Adelaide, which takes place on Sunday January 14.

Richie Porte wins the 2017 Tour Down Under. Photo: Graham Watson

Richie Porte (BMC Racing) took his first overall victory in the Tour Down Under in 2017.

Porte took control on the race on stage two, having accelerated away from his rivals on the final climb.

The Australian then repeated the feat on stage five to Willunga Hill, soloing to win the stage for a fourth consecutive year and building up an unassailable lead going into the final 90km criterium stage in Adelaide.

Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) once again proved to be unbeatable in the final stage bunch finish, impressively taking his fourth sprint victory of the race.

Porte duly finished safely in the peloton to claim the overall victory and ochre jersey of race winner.

Porte topped the general classification 48 seconds ahead of Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) in second and Australian Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third at 51 seconds.

Key info: Stage by stage | Start list | Live on TV

Tour Down Under 2018 stages

Stage one, Tues January 16, Port Adelaide to Lyndoch, 145km | Report | Video
Stage two, Weds January 17, Unley to Stirling, 148.6km | Report | Video
Stage three, Thurs January 18, Glenelg to Victor Harbor, 146.5km | Report | Video
Stage four, Fri January 19, Norwood to Uraidla, 128.2km | Report | Video
Stage five, Sat January 20, McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill, 151.5km
Stage six, Sun January 21, Adelaide to Adelaide, 90km

Tour Down Under: recent winners

2017: Richie Porte (BMC Racing)
2016: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
2015: Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing)
2014: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
2013: Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco Pro Cycling)
2012: Simon Gerrans (GreenEdge)
2011: Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Cervelo)
2010: André Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2009: Allan Davis (Quick Step)
2008: André Greipel (Team High Road)
2007: Martin Elmiger (Ag2r Prévoyance)

Women’s Tour Down Under 2018

Amanda Spratt wins the 2018 Women’s Tour Down Under. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

The UCI 2.1-ranked Women’s Tour Down Under ran from January 11-14. Australian Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) became the first rider to win more than one edition of the race by taking her second consecutive victory.

Stage one, Thurs January 11, Gumeracha to Gumeracha, 115.7km
Stage two, Fri January 12, Lyndoch to Mengler’s Hill, 102km
Stage three, Sat January 13, Bend Motorsport Park to Hahndorf, 122.4km
Stage four, Sun January 14, Wakefield Road to Wakefield Road, 46km