Cycling: Peter Sagan opened the new season with a win. The world champion left André Greipel and Caleb Ewan behind in the 50,6-kilometre circuit race.
Peter Sagan intercepts Greipel
132 drivers in a good mood presented themselves to their fans in Adelaide at the People's Choice Classic. After 22 laps of 2,3 kilometers each, the winner was determined in a mass sprint, as expected. There, Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) proved to be the strongest professional. The Slovak made perfect use of Andrße Greipel's rear wheel to overtake the German just before the finish line. Phil Bauhaus (Sunweb), meanwhile, almost fell after dodging a small wave from his compatriot. This then continued on and on, so that the young Kristoffer Halvorsen (Sky) finally ran out of the road. The Norwegian fell. Meanwhile, local hero Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) missed his third straight win at the People's Choice Classic. The little Australian wanted to sneak away at the very edge, but was caught in the wind far too early.
🏁 WHAT A FINISH!!! Victory in the @peopleschoiceAU Classic for @petosagan!! Did we mention he was relaxed earlier? The world champion is back in town!! #TDU #peopleschoiceAUclassic pic.twitter.com/AoPo6Q9dWk
— Santos Tour Down Under 🐨🚴 (@tourdownunder) 14 January 2018
The Tour Down Under begins on Monday night
The People's Choice Classic used to be called the Down Under Classic. Since 2006, the circuit race in Adelaide has been held around Rymill Park. It serves as a relaxed canter before the Tour Down Under. The start for the pros is voluntary because the race is neither part of the WorldTour nor part of the overall ranking of the six-day tour. Since its inception, the People's Choice Classic has only been won by German or Australian drivers - until today, Peter Sagan was celebrating. Marcel Kittel won twice, André Greipel is even the record holder with three wins. On January 16th - in the night from Monday to Tuesday - the first stage of the Tour Down Under is on the agenda. It too should be a matter for the sprinters, just like the sections on the following two days. From a German perspective, André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Phil Bauhaus (Sunweb) in particular have a chance of winning a stage.
Seven formers #TDU winners are at the starting line. Three are in @BMCProTeam colors 👊🏼. pic.twitter.com/UygUU8b9Rn
— BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) 14 January 2018
Result of the People's Choice Classic 2018
1. Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe)
2. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
3. Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton Scott)
4. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
5. Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates)
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9. Jasha Sutterlin (Movistar)
13. Phil Bauhaus (Sunweb)
Amanda Spratt wins the Santos Women's Tour Down Under
While the men still have the start of their tour ahead of them, the women have already finished. The Santos Women's Tour Down Under was won for the second time by Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott). The Australian already had the fastest legs at the start of the season last year. The Mitchelton-Scott team can now boast its first success. Will things go just as well for the men? We will see …
Hey @AmandaSpratt, how many @SantosLtd #WTDU GC's have you won?
"✌️"
Congratulations on back-to-back Santos Women's Tour Down Under victories to Amanda Spratt – incredible performance.#Adelaide #seesouthaustralia #TDU #WTDU pic.twitter.com/kygD4ijokE
— Santos Tour Down Under 🐨🚴 (@tourdownunder) 14 January 2018