Sam Welsford (Australia, Bora-Hansgrohe), celebrating his 28th birthday, won the fourth day of the Santos Tour Down Under, which was the last chance for sprinters. He scored a hat trick from a chaotic sprint.
The 4th day of the 24th Santos Tour Down Under photo: CorVos
The opening round of the 2024 road season, the Santos Tour Down Under, is in its second half, with stage four contested over 136.2km from Murray Bridge to Port Elliot. This day was a flat stage, with the exception of a Class 3 mountain in the middle of the course. The following 5th and 6th stages were the last chance for the sprinters, as they were all about the top of the mountain where there was a fierce battle.
Australian champion Luke Plapp (Jaco AlUllah) and Cameron Scott (Australia, Bahrain Victorious), who were injured in a fall from a car the day before, chose not to run, while 19-year-old Jackson Medway (Australia) started slowly. national team) and 22-year-old Vinicius Hangeu (Brazil, Movistar) will jump out. Proton accepted this, and the two young riders formed an escape group.
On this day, two players including Vinicius Hangeu (Brazil, Movistar) hit a runaway photo: CorVos
Isaac Del Toro running in the overall leader jersey (Mexico, UAE Team Emirates) photo: CorVos
The race progressed quietly and Medway passed the lead without a fight in the intermediate sprint at the 66.7km mark. And in the peloton, Kelland O’Brien (Australia, Jayco AlUla) stopped Jonathan Narváez (Ecuador, Ineos Grenadiers) from passing for third place, who wanted to add bonus time for the overall battle. In the second intermediate sprint (82.2km), Campbell Stewart (New Zealand, Jayco AlUla) prevented Narváez from scoring points.
This day’s race went smoothly, with the exception of Cofidis’s mass crash. Then, with 12km remaining, the Proton absorbed the two fleeing riders. The final collective sprint of the tournament began, with Ineos Grenadiers actively lining up the train at the front.
Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe, Australia) leading the sprint on a gentle slope photo: CorVos
Ineos with Elia Viviani (Italy) and Bora-Hansgrohe with Sam Welsford (Australia) lined up, but Caleb Ewan (Australia, Jayco Al-Ullah), who had no lead out, was buried in the group. With less than 1km remaining, Bora cleared the final corner in the lead.
It seemed that Bora had set up a sure-win situation, but Biniyam Gilmay (Eritrea, Intermarche Wanty) got in between Danny van Poppel (Netherlands) and Welsford, who were the final launch pad. Viviani then started the sprint from Narváez’s lead out position. However, Viviani, who said after the race, “I was too early (to lead out),” held off, and Welsford, who took advantage of his position, stepped in.
Gilmay was no match for the speed of Welsford, who had won two races so far, and Phil Bauhaus (Germany, Bahrain Victorious) was surrounded by other players and had nowhere to go. And Welsford, who proved to be the fastest in the peloton, completed a hat-trick.
Sam Welsford (Australia, Bora-Hansgrohe) won his third section win on his 28th birthday photo: CorVos
Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe, Australia) celebrating his victory on the podium photo: CorVos
Welsford achieved a local victory on their 28th birthday. “I was so focused on the race that I forgot that today was my birthday. My teammates ran great today as well, and it’s all thanks to them for this victory. I’m looking forward to the UAE Tour and Giro d’Italia that await me. We are working well together. Even though the train was disjointed today, we were able to time it and win. I’m really happy,” Welsford said in an interview with local media.
The next day’s 5th stage is the queen stage, which features the famous Willunga Hill (total length 3.6km/average 7.1%/maximum 14%) for the first time in four years since 2020. All eyes will be on the overall battle between Isaac Del Toro (Mexico, UAE Team Emirates), Julien Alaphilippe (France, Soudal Quickstep), and Simon Yates (England, Jayco AlUla), who will wear the leader jersey.
2024-01-20 00:00:00
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