Germany’s Phil Bauhaus yesterday held off fast-finishing Australian Caleb Ewan to narrowly take the first stage of the men’s Tour Down Under in South Australia.
Bauhaus, riding for Bahrain Victorious, had less than half a wheel to spare as he flashed across the finish line in Tanunda as Australian National Team rider Ewan stormed home from well back in the pack at the end of the 149.9km stage through the Barossa Valley wine growing region.
Australia’s Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-AlUla) was third across the line, ahead of Italy’s Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates).
Photo: EPA-EFE
Italy’s Alberto Bettiol (EF Education - Easypost) led the race overall after his win in Tuesday’s prologue around the streets of Adelaide.
Bauhaus recovered from a crash earlier in the opening stage to get in position for a crack at the finishing sprint down the main street of Tanunda.
“I crashed pretty bad, it was a massive impact, but I recovered and the team did a really good job, we were always in front in the last lap,” Bauhaus said. “In the [leadup] Schwalbe Classic I waited too long, so this time with 300m left I just went for it, and it was pretty close at the end with Caleb, but I’m super happy.”
The stage was marred by a series of pileups and a few riders came down in a scrimmage in the furious closing kilometer.
The US’ Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) went down in the final run and had cuts on both knees. He was able to cross the line, retaining third place overall.
His team said he was being evaluated.
Ewan relished the rough and tumble in the closing stages.
“Doesn’t get better than a big crash does it?” he wrote on Twitter.
There was also a mass fall with 50km left involving six riders. Dutchman Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) and New Zealand’s Patrick Bevin (Team DSM) could not continue in the stage.
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