TDU: Caleb charges to Classic win

Aussie crit champion Caleb Ewan wins the bunch kick at the end of the Tour Down Under’s People’s Choice Classic

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TDU: Caleb charges to Classic win

Event press release | Photo credits Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo 

Australian sprinting sensation Caleb Ewan has outgunned a world class field to claim victory in the People’s Choice Classic, the annual curtain raiser event for the Santos Tour Down Under that kicks off cycling’s WorldTour calendar.

Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

A 102 thousand strong crowd flocked to Adelaide’s East End for a day of activities that featured the Classic, Stage 2 of the Santos Women’s Tour, the BUPA Family Ride, People’s Choice Undies Run for Bowel Cancer and closed with a high-energy set from DJ Havana Brown.

22 year old Ewan, who won the Classic last year along with two Tour stages, was put into a perfect position for the victory by his ORICA-SCOTT team mates. They deftly handled a fierce battle with the BORA-Hansgrohe train of World Champion, Peter Sagan. Ewan claimed his second straight Australian Criterium crown earlier this month and tonight had too much speed for his rivals. He sailed across the line a bike length clear of second placed Sam Bennett (IRL) who was led out by his team mate Sagan who was third.

Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

“My team backed me one hundred percent and rode (on the front) straight away when the breakaway left so I could save my energy,” said Ewan. “It took a lot of stress off me. We probably went quite early for the sprint compared with the other teams but my team mates rode perfectly, using the other teams strength as well,” he said. “It’s a nice feeling to beat Peter Sagan. At the moment he’s the best rider in the world.”

“This is a great race to build the confidence ahead of the Tour Down Under and I’m excited about the next week of racing.” Meantime Bennett was still buzzing from having five time Tour de France sprint champion, Sagan lead him out at the end of the 22 lap, 50.6km circuit race. “I was shaking, there was a big fight for his wheel and I was nervous,” said Bennett. “I didn’t want to take away an opportunity for Peter, because it is the first race of the season with the new team.”

“Peter was telling me to relax but it was nerve-wracking,” he said. “I want to say thanks to the guys and I hope I can pay them back with a win this week.”

Sagan was philosophical about the team’s loss. “It was good, but not super-good, It was OK,” Sagan said. “We did a good job, but not enough for the win. We wanted to win with Sam Bennett, but he was second.,” he said. “I will recover, and we will see for the Tour Down Under.” As is tradition the race got off to a cracking start with attacks being launched almost from the line.

Dimension Data’s Nathan Haas (AUS) and Adam Hansen (AUS) from Lotto Soudal tried to ride away but the peloton stymied their attack. On the third lap Ben O’Connor (AUS) from Team Dimension Data and Will Clarke (AUS) of Cannondale-Drapac Professional Cycling were more successful and they surged clear. At the end of lap five Clarke out sprinted O’Connor to claim the Subaru intermediate sprint but O’Connor then launched a solo attack and rode clear. Clarke and Jeremy Maison (FRA) from FDJ , who had ridden up to join him, were soon caught by the peloton.

“It took me a while to get to the front so when I got in the break I was already in the red a little bit,” explained Clarke. “So I tried to get the first sprint and I sort of struggled after that. When O’Connor claimed the second sprint at the end of 10 laps his lead was down to 28 seconds as ORICA-SCOTT and Astana set the tempo on the front of the bunch.

O’Connor, a WorldTour debutant, held the margin as he collected the iiNet sprint at the end of 15 laps.

Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo

Five laps or a little over ten kilometres from the finish, O’Connor’s lead was down to 17 seconds as the sprint specialists began marshalling their team mates for the final showdown.

“I didn’t have in mind to go solo but to go in a breakaway,” said O’Connor. “I wanted to try and see and open up the legs and I ended up by myself.

“It was great to show the colours for my first race with Dimension Data and the support of the crowd was amazing. There was a helluva lot of people out there, it was continuous applause all the way. It was always going to be hard to stay away with the speed of the peloton.”

As the sun set over the course the snaking peloton hunted down the lone escapee and with three laps remaining O’Connor was caught. Monday is a rest day for the riders ahead of Hostworks Stage 1 on Tuesday that will start in Unley and head through the heart of Adelaide and out to the wine Barossa region taking in scenic views of pastures and vineyards on their way to the finish arch in Lyndoch.

Photo: Santos Tour Down Under / Regallo
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1 EWAN Caleb Orica – Scott 01:03:41
2 BENNETT Sam Bora – Hansgrohe @ same time
3 SAGAN Peter Bora – Hansgrohe @ same time
4 BONIFAZIO Niccolo Bahrain – Merida @ same time
5 THEUNS Edward Trek – Segafredo @ same time
6 RENSHAW Mark Team Dimension Data @ same time
7 DE BIE Sean Lotto Soudal @ same time
8 PLANCKAERT Baptiste Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
9 BEVIN Patrick Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ same time
10 SUTTERLIN Jasha Movistar Team @ same time
11 BARBERO CUESTA Carlos Movistar Team @ same time
12 WAGNER Robert Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
13 MONTAGUTI Matteo Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
14 ARNDT Nikias Team Sunweb @ same time
15 KLUGE Roger Orica – Scott @ same time
16 VAN POPPEL Danny Team Sky @ same time
17 SCOTSON Miles Bmc Racing Team @ same time
18 KUMP Marko Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
19 FENG Chun Kai Bahrain – Merida @ same time
20 VELITS Martin Quick – Step Floors @ same time
21 BYSTRÖM Sven Erik Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
22 VAN ASBROECK Tom Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ same time
23 BERARD Julien Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
24 VALGREN Michael Astana Pro Team @ same time
25 DE VREESE Laurens Astana Pro Team 8
26 CHEVRIER Clément Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
26 BRAJKOVIC Janez Bahrain – Merida @ same time
28 IMPEY Daryl Orica – Scott @ same time
29 VAKOC Petr Quick – Step Floors @ same time
30 LADAGNOUS Matthieu Fdj @ same time
31 WYSS Danilo Bmc Racing Team @ same time
32 HAMILTON Lucas UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
33 MARTENS Paul Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
34 MCCARTHY Jay Bora – Hansgrohe @ same time
35 BIDARD François Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
36 GUERREIRO Ruben Trek – Segafredo @ same time
37 CINK Ondrej Bahrain – Merida @ same time
38 SWIFT Ben Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
39 VERMEULEN Alexey Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
40 HENAO GOMEZ Sebastian Team Sky @ same time
41 PANTANO Jarlinson Trek – Segafredo @ same time
42 HENAO Sergio Luis Team Sky @ same time
43 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Jacques Team Dimension Data @ same time
44 DE KORT Koen Trek – Segafredo @ same time
45 LAENGEN Vegard Stake Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
46 CHAVES Johan Esteban Orica – Scott @ same time
47 HINDLEY Jai UNISA AUSTRALIA 14
48 JENNER Samuel UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
49 ZAKHAROV Artyom Astana Pro Team @ same time
50 ULISSI Diego Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
51 HANSEN Adam Lotto Soudal @ same time
52 HAMILTON Chris Team Sunweb @ same time
53 GASTAUER Ben Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
54 CAPECCHI Eros Quick – Step Floors @ same time
55 POZZOVIVO Domenico Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
56 MAISON Jérémy Fdj @ same time
57 MUHLBERGER Gregor Bora – Hansgrohe @ same time
58 PÖSTLBERGER Lukas Bora – Hansgrohe @ same time
59 IZAGUIRRE Gorka Movistar Team @ same time
60 GERRANS Simon Orica – Scott @ same time
61 VENTOSO Francisco Bmc Racing Team @ same time
62 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team 19
63 WOODS Michael Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team 34
64 ARASHIRO Yukiya Bahrain – Merida 40
65 BAUER Jack Quick – Step Floors @ same time
66 BAUHAUS Phil Team Sunweb @ same time
67 SELIG Rüdiger Bora – Hansgrohe 47
68 MACHADO Tiago Team Katusha Alpecin 51
69 VISCONTI Giovanni Bahrain – Merida @ same time
70 KOLAR Michael Bora – Hansgrohe 53
71 BATTAGLIN Enrico Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
72 DE LA PARTE Victor Movistar Team 56
73 SOLER GIMENEZ Marc Movistar Team @ same time
74 COURTEILLE Arnaud Fdj @ same time
75 EIKING Odd Christian Fdj @ same time
76 MANZIN Lorrenzo Fdj @ same time
77 RESTREPO VALENCIA Jhonatan Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
78 GESINK Robert Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
79 SANCHEZ Luis-Leon Astana Pro Team @ same time
80 STORER Michael UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
81 MAS Enric Quick – Step Floors @ same time
82 VICIOSO Angel Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
83 LAMMERTINK Maurits Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
84 DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal @ same time
85 BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Soudal @ same time
86 DIDIER Laurent Trek – Segafredo @ same time
87 ARMEE Sander Lotto Soudal @ same time
88 HOFSTEDE Lennard Team Sunweb @ same time
89 GRMAY Tsgabu Gebremaryam Bahrain – Merida @ same time
90 SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ same time
91 MOINARD Amaël Bmc Racing Team @ same time
92 CANTY Brebdan Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ same time
93 BAKELANTS Jan Ag2r La Mondiale @ same time
94 STETINA Peter Trek – Segafredo @ same time
95 PORTE Richie Bmc Racing Team @ same time
96 MORI Manuele Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
97 MARCATO Marco Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
98 SHAW James Lotto Soudal @ same time
99 VALLS Rafael Lotto Soudal @ same time
100 FRÖHLINGER Johannes Team Sunweb @ same time
101 BOUWMAN Koen Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo 01:05
102 LINDEMAN Bert-Jan Team Lotto Nl – Jumbo @ same time
103 PEDERSEN Mads Trek – Segafredo @ same time
104 BRAMBILLA Gianluca Quick – Step Floors @ same time
105 CARUSO Damiano Bmc Racing Team @ same time
106 GATTO Oscar Astana Pro Team @ same time
107 FARRAR Tyler Team Dimension Data @ same time
108 DENNIS Rohan Bmc Racing Team @ same time
109 MEYER Cameron UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
110 EARLE Nathan UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
111 SCOTSON Callum UNISA AUSTRALIA @ same time
112 VENTER Jaco Team Dimension Data 01:12
113 O’CONNOR Ben Team Dimension Data @ same time
114 DEVENYNS Dries Quick – Step Floors @ same time
115 ROUX Anthony Fdj @ same time
116 MORTON Lachlan David Team Dimension Data @ same time
117 LE BON Johan Fdj @ same time
118 GONÇALVES José Team Katusha Alpecin @ same time
119 HERRADA LOPEZ José Movistar Team @ same time
120 HERRADA Jesus Movistar Team @ same time
121 CLARKE William Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team @ same time
122 HOWSON Damien Orica – Scott 01:16
123 MEINTJES Louis Uae Abu Dhabi @ same time
124 HAAS Nathan Team Dimension Data @ same time
125 ROWE Luke Team Sky 01:19
126 DURBRIDGE Luke Orica – Scott 01:25
127 HOWES Alex Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team 01:37
128 THOMAS Geraint Team Sky 01:40

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