Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEDGE) again proved that he is the man of the early season by claiming his first ever stage win in the Tour Down Under when the 2016 WorldTour kicked off with a flat stage. After Daryl Impey had done a great job to keep him near the front, the Australian was in a class of his own in the sprint, easily holding off Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) and Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) and taking the first leader’s jersey in the race.

 

We have gathered some reactions.

 

Ewan: I have to thank Gerrans for giving me the chance

People’s Choice Classic winner Caleb Ewan has taken out the first stage of the 2016 Santos Tour Down Under in Lyndoch today.

 

Ewan outsprinted Mark Renshaw (Team Dimension Data) and Wouter Wippert (Cannondale Pro Cycling) for his seventh victory this year and second ever WorldTour win following his stage success on Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana last year.

 

The win also puts the 21-year-old into the Ochre leader’s jersey with finish line bonus seconds giving him a four second advantage to Renshaw.

 

“I was feeling good and the team showed their faith in me by riding on the front all day,” Ewan said. “It’s a really big confidence boost and that’s exactly what I need going into the season.”

 

“It’s a really proud moment for me, I’ve never led a WorldTour race before and to do it for the first time in my home country is a real honour for me.

 

“I felt good all day and they (Orica-GreenEdge team) backed me right from the start. To win a road race you have to be very conservative during the day, the victory usually goes to the one who's got the freshest legs and the best team in the end.”

 

“I need to thank Simon Gerrans for sharing the team with me (because) if he'd asked for the whole team to ride for him we'd do so,” said Ewan of his team leader who has three times won overall honours in the Santos Tour Down Under. “For a guy like that to tell me you can have your go I'm really grateful.

 

“It'll be a really proud moment for me to race in the ochre jersey tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve never led a World Tour race before and to do it in my own country means a lot to me.”

 

With three riders up the road for much of the day’s racing, sport director Matt White was happy for the team to ride on the front in support of the in-form sprinter.

 

“We obviously have a lot of responsibility with Caleb here and as our home WorldTour race but the boys did a good job controlling the stage and then looking after him in the final,” White said.

 

“He had Luke Durbridge, Mat Hayman and Daryl Impey in the final and the main thing was that he got a clean run to the line and he showed he is the fastest guy here.”

 

Renshaw: Ewan is hard to beat

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka got its World Tour season off to a cracking start with Mark Renshaw sprinting to 2nd place at the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Under. Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEDGE) took the top spot on the day and also the race leader’s jersey. Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) completed the stage podium in 3rd.

 

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka had ridden a clever race with the whole team staying together and out of trouble at the front of the peloton in the run in to the line.

 

Jaco Venter did a great job piloting the fast boys in the finale before Tyler Farrar really ramped up the pace in the final 2km. Renshaw was 4th wheel with a km to go, prime position, and he was able to overcome the 3 riders ahead of him but the in-form GreenEDGE rider just had a kick that would be unmatched today. A superb start though by the African Team to place 2nd on the day and also have all the riders finish safely in the main bunch, a brilliant team effort.

 

“I am very happy to be on the podium here in the first stage of the Tour Down Under. This is the 14th time I start the Tour Down Under and it's a pleasure to be here with my new team, Dimension Data for Qhubeka,” Renshaw said.

 

“The finish was very hard to judge with a head wind finish and slight uphill. I maybe went a little too early once I'd seen the finish banner and that cost me the chance to win. Ewan did a really nice sprint, timing it perfectly behind me, he is in top shape where I have bigger objectives coming soon in the season.

 

”The team rode well today and Tyler did a perfect job of putting me behind the Sky riders to start my sprint in the front of the bunch.

 

“I haven’t raced as much as the other Aussie guys, and Caleb is hard to beat when he’s going like he is right now. The team did a great job today for me, but my goals come later in the season with Mark Cavendish (for whom he will be a key lead out rider).

 

“We will keep working for a stage win this week but it was a great start for the team, because this is the first time I’ve really raced with these guys since coming to the team.”

 

Wippert: I had to start too early

Cannondale’s Wippert was also happy to be in the mix at the finish conceding that Ewan’s top speed is hard to counter.

 

“The guys did an awesome job to keep me perfectly in front,” said Wippert. “The last five kilometres, it was almost a crash, and sometimes you would lose ten places in 100 metres, and you had to fight back. 

 

“With one kilometre to go, I was pretty far back, and I made the call to go,” he explained.

 

“Ewan is too good these days to go that far out. Timing is everything with wind like this and I am happy we didn’t crash,” said Wippert who was nonetheless happy to finish in the placings on his first day racing with his new team.

 

"I will be really honest, with a kilometre to go, I was already like: 'Ahhh – I don’t know if this is going to work out today.' But you never give up, and the line is the line. You know – it was headwind so that makes it a little easier to come from the back sometime.

 

"I was lucky there was an opening to get through and there was a way to get through it. The only thing I can think about now is what if I was in a better position, but hopefully it will work out this week. We have two more chances."

 

,”The speed was good, but the positioning needs to be better. I was too far back,” he added in an interview with De Telegraaf.

“When we came out of the last corner, there were still a lot riders ahead of me. We had a headwind so you must make the choice to start early, with the tisk that you are in the wind too early.  Therefore, I made  late attempt. Unfortunately, this gave no victory, but nevertheless I am quite satisfied. "

 

”It was pretty hectic in the last kilometers. It was a miracle that there was no crash, because that could well have happened.

 

“The next two races are going to be too heavy, but Friday and Sunday are again opportunities for a sprint. And if you get a sprint, everything is possible. The form and my speed give me confidence that I can win.”

 

Blythe: It was hard to stay in front

Tinkoff's British sprinter anticipates the sprint but yields in the closing meters. Caleb Ewan of Orica GreenEDGE, claimed the first stage of the Australian race, the first one in the 2016 WorldTour. Hot weather and windy conditions gave quite a hard time to the peloton that, not surprisingly, got to the finish line in the city of Lyndock in a compact group.

 

The opening stage of the race, into its 18th year, was marked by a relatively challenging course conceived for sprinters, from Prospect to Lyndoch, 130.8 kilometers long and with one KOM, in Lower hermitage, shortly after the tenth kilometer. There were three intermediate sprints, just before and after the middle of the race, set within the final street circuit track which was ridden three times.

 

"Today’s stage took place in unfavorable weather conditions considering the temperature hit 40C", commented Sports director Lars Michaelsen, "after the breakaway of the three riders, the race was mainly controlled by the group, and especially by the teams of the sprinters. From our point of view we protected our sprinters in view of a possible final sprint, and I think it was a good team performance. Adam Blythe anticipated the sprint and tried not to fall behind in the finale by taking a risk. However one has to take some chances in order to achieve big results."

 

140 riders were at the starting line of the Australian stage race marked by the torrid heat wave of the Barossa Valley which forced them to keep a pace below their expectations.

 

Shortly after the start, within 4 km, the first breakaway took place with Alexis Gougeard, Martijn Keizer and Sean Lake. At about 5 km from the finish line the group recaptured the fugitives and were reunited again until the final sprint.

 

"In the last kilometers of the stage it was hard to stay in front of the group", stated Adam Blythe, "and I fought to keep a favorable position ahead of the final sprint. Towards the finish line my sprint took me in front of everyone, but I'm afraid I was unable to keep the same speed until the end. Tomorrow's stage could be suitable to the characteristics of our Oscar Gatto. In my opinion, today I saw him in very good shape".

 

Tomorrow will see the riders race from the city of Unley, and finally get to Stirling after 132 km and with two intermediate sprints (after 27.9 and 49.3 km) and a King of the Mountain set at about 14 km from the start. The final circuit will be raced five times therefore, as it happened in the first stage, it is very likely it will end up in a bunch sprint.

 

Sky again dominate lead-out in Australia

Ben Swift claimed seventh place on the opening stage of Tour Down Under after a strong Team Sky lead-out went unrewarded.

 

After staying patient during the opening test, the team arrived at the front in the final six kilometres with Ian Stannard and Salvatore Puccio leading the line on the right-hand side of the road.

 

Maintaining a prominent front position, Swift kicked off the wheel of Luke Rowe in the final kilometre but found his path blocked against the barriers, forcing him to check up and lose momentum on the way to seventh.

 

It was Caleb Ewan who replicated his victory in Sunday's People's Choice Classic, the Orica-GreenEdge rider leading home Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) and Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) in a headwind finish to take an early race lead.

 

Also present in the lead-out, Geraint Thomas, Sergio Henao and Pete Kennaugh all finished safely inside the peloton following three laps around Lyndoch.

 

"It was hard out there today with the combination of the heat and the wind," explained Sport Director Kurt Asle Arvesen.

 

"There was more wind than I think anyone expected but the guys did well. They got through the stage without any problems. They took it on with 10km to go, moved up and then took it over. G and Sergio finished without problems and tried to help out Ben towards the end.

 

"Swifty was a bit unlucky to get boxed in with Blythey at the end and lost a possible third place. Tomorrow is going to be another tough one. We do five laps around Stirling, which equates to a thousand altitude metres more than the Corkscrew and Willunga stages. Hopefully it won't be as warm, but it will be a reduced peloton for sure."

 

Lake takes first mountains jersey

“A long ride up the road suits me more than the other guys so it was my job to break away for UniSA,” said UniSA’s Sean Lake who two years ago swapped a career as a lightweight rower to pursue cycling.

 

He placed third in the time trial at the recent Australian Championships in Ballarat which was enough to earn him selection in the UniSA - Australia team for the opening UCI WorldTour race of the season.

 

Lake’s effort to be first over the climb gives him the lead in the Subaru King of the Mountain competition.

 

“I’m absolutely stoked to get the King of of the Mountains jersey,” said Lake. “I gave it all in the climb.”

 

The gap to the lead three stretched out to more than two minutes at one stage before the work began in the bunch to reel them in. But Lake wasn’t done yet with the debutant trying his luck again.

 

“I saw the two Europeans were sort of struggling with the heat so I went for a solo time trial,” said Lake who stayed clear on his own until five kilometres from home. “It's always possible to get a stage win like this but not today.”

 

The team got an 8th place in the sprint with Steele von Hoff.

 

“So close to getting a run today! Almost had a chance to try step out next to #TDU2016 stage 1 winner @CalebEwan congratulations mate,” he tweeted after the stage.

 

Rojas in the mix ahead of key stage for Movistar

T Movistar Team debuted seemingly without any troubles in the 18th Tour Down Under where Caleb Ewan (OGE) has kept showing he's the man of the moment with a second win - and a subsequent ochre jersey - in as many contests this week, after a convincing display at the end of the 130km route from Prospect to Lyndoch.

 

José Joaquín Rojas finished 9th in an inevitable sprint - only Keizer (TLJ), Gougeard (ALM) and most notably Lake (UNA) dared to defy the bunch - while Rubén Fernández and his team-mates kept themselves safe and in front of the field on a hot, windy day, prelude of Wednesday's difficulties on stage two.

 

Both Rojas and Juanjo Lobato seem like good candidates for the stage honours from José Luis Arrieta's squad tomorrow as Stirling's finish is again located on a slight uphill where the Andalusian triumphed in 2015. 132km are on the day's programme, starting, like that day, in the town of Unley.

 

No mountains jersey for Keizer

Martijn Keizer broke away during the first stage of the Tour Down Under overnight in Australia. The Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider attacked between Prospect and Lyndoch to grab the mountains jersey, but did not succeed in his aim of keeping it. The stage ended up in a bunch sprint, Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEDGE) won with LottoNL’s Enrico Battaglin 12th.

“I wanted to grab the first mountain jersey, so I aimed for a spot in the early breakaway,” Keizer said after the race. “I was very close to that jersey. Orica-GreenEDGE started to control the race very solidly afterwards, which meant that we didn’t consider having a chance for the stage victory. I’m glad that I showed some spirit at the start of the season anyway.”

“It’s a pity that Martijn didn’t grab the mountain jersey,” sports director Frans Maassen added. “He was exhausted in the end of the stage and unfortunately, was dropped by the peloton in the moment that Primoz Roglic broke four spokes and had to change bikes. But fortunately, he was able to get back to the peloton with ten kilometres to go. Caleb Ewan was simply the best in the bunch sprint.”

 

Puncture takes Pelucchi out of contention

“Matteo Pelucchi punctured with 11 kilometers to go. Marcel Aregger immediately gave Matteo his wheel, but we were on a little climb, and given the speed at which the peloton was racing, it was impossible for him to get back up in position,” IAM sports diretcor Kjell Carlström explained after the finish of the stage.  “We then decided to work for Leigh Howard, but the guys failed to organize themselves properly,” the directeur sportif Carlström added.  “There was a strong cross wind, so it was difficult to stay together and move up the pack at that speed.”

 

“The problem for Matteo changed out plans,” Aleksejs Saramotins continued.  “We did not manage to reorganize ourselves quickly enough, and once the sprint was launched, we were lost.  The final was tough.  For my part, I was not trying to take part in the sprint, but just to keep my momentum.  For me to finish 14th was not the team’s plan, nor was it my goal.  Only the victory interested us today.”

 

In order to fight against the heat, which was approaching 40 degrees for this first stage, the riders used ice packs to keep their body temperatures down.  Usually placed at the neck, the wrists, or inside the arm at the elbow, these packs of ice made life for the riders of IAM Cycling much more bearable.  They had ice packs from the start of the stage, and then had fresh packs placed in their musettes at the feed zone.

 

Wednesday’s stage between Inlay and Stirling is a relatively short stage (132km), but offers more options for the punchier riders in thepeloton. 

 

Kjell Carlström believes it will be a day for those riders more than the sprinters. “We’re not going to dwell on our result today,” Carlström admitted.  “Tomorrow is another opportunity, and is a stage that could already shake out the general classification.  We will be looking to David Tanner and Jarlinson Pantano to be among the leaders at this level.”

 

Astana come up short in sprint finish

It was a fast, hot, and windy first stage of the Santos Tour Down Under. After the long escape of three riders that characterized the first part of the stage, a bunch sprint was the natural conclusion for a flat stage in the hot Australian summer. Arman Kamyshev was 15th at the finish line but he has had some problems in the last few meters: "I was in a very good position at 700 meters to the finish," explained the Kazach rider of the Astana Pro Team, "but unfortunately some other riders had occupied my trajectory so I was forced to brake while the sprint was starting..."

 

Martinelli unable to repeat top 10

The 22-year-old Italian Davide Martinelli confirmed his good form, two days after nailing a top 10 in the People's Choice Classic criterium. He was the best placed rider of Etixx – Quick-Step in 16th place, same time as the winner.

 

"I'm happy with Davide's performance today. He has done well to become adapted with the team. Getting into a top position for the sprints isn't always easy, but the team did what they could do today. It was a very hectic sprint due to the headwind, and everyone wanted to hide from it. So the speed was not that high until the last 2-3 kilometres, when everyone tried to get into the right position. Getting 16th place today isn't too bad for Davide. Perhaps, as the racing continues, the team will be able to find a good position during the sprint, and his results will only improve, like we saw in the Criterium", said Rik van Slycke, the team's sport director in Australia.

 

Davide Martinelli is one of the most versatile riders to turn pro in 2016, with results ranging from a podium in the road race at the U23 European Championships last year to a top 10 in Paris-Roubaix and three victories at the Italian Time Trial Championships. Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under was his first World Tour experience and it left him satisfied, especially as the team worked hard to bring him into a good position at the finish in Lyndoch: "It was a hard day in the saddle, and the hot temperatures made the racing conditions difficult. There was a small breakaway consisting of only three riders, and in the last 15 kilometers the team worked really hard for me. But in the last 3 kilometres there was a bit of confusion amongst the peloton, which made the finale difficult. However, the team was incredible, and I'd like to say thanks to all of my teammates for their support during today's stage."

 

De Kort makes a gamble

KOEN DE KORT TOOK 18TH PLACE FOR GIANT-ALPECIN ON THE OPENING STAGE OF THE SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER. STAGE 1 ENDED UP IN A BUNCH SPRINT THAT WAS WON BY FAST YOUNGSTER CALEB EWAN (ORICA-GREENEDGE). 

 

“The guys felt good today,” said coach Aike Visbeek. “In early stages we were focused and in control of the race. Also when the wind picked up and it got dangerous we were attentive and positioned in the front.

 

“In the finale the guys grouped together and sticked to the plan, but they mistimed things a bit and moved up too late as the last couple of kilometers were extremely fast. Tomorrow could already become a day for the GC and we look forward to that.”

 

Mission accomplished for FDJ

The first stage of the Tour Down Under delivered the expected scenario: heat, A futile escape OF three attackers and a sprint victory for Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) .

 

"It started as a joke,” explains FDJ sports director Frédéric Guesdon as the name of Ewan was not on the start list. “I went to tell to the commissaires that there were only six riders in the Orica-GreenEdge team. But in general, the stage was especially marked by heat.”

 

"We had a good day. It was the year the first real race but everyone has responded well and did their job. They handled the circuit and the risk of wind, but everyone finished in the first peloton without losing time. So it is mission accomplished. Of course, there's fatigue tonight but it is mainly due to the heat.”

 

On Tuesday, the second stage is takes place in Stirling and on its famous climb where Lobato (Movistar) took victory last year. With Anthony Roux, FDJ has a good chance to do well.

 

Gougeard most aggressive rider

Gougeard was named the Alpecin Most Competitive Rider of the Day for his role in the breakaway.

 

“I was briefed for breaking away in case there would be more riders up the road,” said the Frenchman. “It was a good test. I don't have great feelings yet but I had good legs today, certainly better than one year ago in this same race. 

 

“Physically I feel good, mentally too and we'll try to do a good job for (teammate Domenico) Pozzovivo on GC (overall).”

 

Dennis survives windy first stage

BMC Racing Team faced hot and dry conditions in the first stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, which was won by Caleb Ewan (ORICA GreenEDGE) in a bunch sprint.

 

Floris Gerts was the best-placed BMC Racing Team rider who finished the 130.8 kilometre stage from Prospect to Lyndoch in 58th place.

 

For Gerts, today’s stage was his first UCI WorldTour race with BMC Racing Team.

 

“I’m really happy with how today’s stage went. To be honest the heat wasn’t so bad, I felt good and the legs felt good too. It was really different racing with the team in this sort of race. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s stage and the rest of the racing this week.”

 

Despite the conditions, defending champion Rohan Dennis said he felt good in today’s opening stage.

 

“Today was a little bit stressful. Before we got to Williamstown it seemed like there was going to be a lot of cross winds. The first lap was a little bit nervous. It died down a bit and everybody became a little more relaxed. In the end it was a sprint. I felt good and I stayed out of trouble and just made sure I didn’t lose time.”

 

Dennis is predicting another sprint finish for tomorrow’s 132 kilometre stage from Unley to Stirling.

 

“I think there will be 50-60 guys in the finish after five laps. We’re just going to try and make sure we don’t lose time but there’s always splits in the last kilometre.”