Tour Down Under Men – Race Report

Tour Down Under

25th January – Stage 5: McLaren Vale – Willunga Hill

Click here to read the full report from the stage where Team Picnic PostNL took second with Oscar Onley.

24th January – Stage 4: Glenelg – Victor Harbor

After a day suited to climbers and puncheurs in stage three, stage four offered another chance for the sprinters. Four riders formed the breakaway of the day, but the group fell apart on the final climb. The last remaining rider was caught in the fast-paced final kilometers leading to the finish. In a hectic finale, Oscar Onley and Bjoern Koerdt responded attentively to attacks while Tobias Lund Andresen prepared for the sprint. With the finish rapidly approaching in the fast final kilometer, Lund Andresen had to launch from too far back, coming across the line in 7th. After the relegation of another sprinter, he was moved up to 6th place in the classification for the day.

Lund Andresen said: “Today was a great opportunity for us. We had Oscar for when the race would get tough on the final climb, and myself if I could manage to survive it. We approached the final climb in a really good position; I was sitting in 20th place, which gave me some room to drop a few wheels. Over the top, it was just me, Oscar, and Bjoern Koerdt left. They were covering the moves, and as we got closer to the sprint, I was navigating on my own. I might have underestimated how close we were to the finish, so I ended up having to launch my sprint from too far back. That said, I felt good today, the sensations were strong, and I think we have a great chance with Oscar tomorrow.”

Results

  • 40.094/H
  • 157.2KM
  • 2027M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1COQUARD BryanCofidis3:55:15-
2BAUHAUS PhilBahrain - Victorious,,-
3NARVÁEZ JhonatanUAE Team Emirates - XRG,,-
6ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
22KOERDT BjoernTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
56ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
79EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL2:32-
82EDDY PatrickTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
110LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
111VAN DEN BERG JuliusTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

23rd January – Stage 3: Norwood – Uraidla

After two days for the sprinters, the climbers and puncheurs had their chance on stage three with the tricky Knotts Hill cresting only seven kilometres before the finish. Team Picnic PostNL set out with the goal of protecting GC finisher Oscar Onley and worked well as a team to keep him safe throughout the stage and positioning him at the head of the group ahead of the tricky descents. Doing just that, Onley was able to start the final climb of the day in the front of the bunch where he showed good climbing legs to follow several moves. Things became tactical over the top and the race was stop-start, with stage winner Romo making a well timed move. With no concerted chase from the reduced peloton, Onley rolled the dice and counter-attacked on one of the last kickers with two kilometres to go, but those behind then got organised and they reeled him back in with 500 metres to go. Onley finished safely in the GC group and sits amongst a group of riders that are 15 seconds behind the overall race leader.

Speaking after the stage Onley said: “The boys did really well to support me into the final two climbs today which was our goal at the start of the day because of the tricky descents. It got quite tactical in the final after the climb and I struggled to make the right decisions due to the numbers that some other teams had. It’s a bit frustrating but I’m feeling good and keen to prove to improve on things in the next harder stage here.”

Results

  • 39.156/H
  • 147.5KM
  • 2648M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1ROMO JavierMovistar Team3:46:01-
2NARVÁEZ JhonatanUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:05-
3FISHER-BLACK FinnRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe,,-
17ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
26KOERDT BjoernTeam Picnic PostNL0:25-
50LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL1:02-
81EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL5:50-
87ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
103VAN DEN BERG JuliusTeam Picnic PostNL10:09-
112EDDY PatrickTeam Picnic PostNL12:40-

22nd January – Stage 2: Tanunda – Tanunda

Another sprint opportunity presented itself at Tour Down Under for the second day of racing, but with Menglers Hill coming in the final 30 kilometres, there was always the chance for attacks. Team Picnic PostNL rode brilliantly throughout the day to keep each other safe and on the climb Oscar Onley and Bjoern Koerdt followed the moves, while the rest of the team stuck together around sprint finisher Tobias Lund Andresen. Coming into the finale the team bided their time before bringing Lund Andresen and dropping him off on race leader Sam Welsford’s wheel ahead of the last kilometre. In a prime position to open his sprint, Lund Andresen looked set to contest for the win with the team but unfortunately he got squeezed as he opened up his effort, ultimately crossing the line for fifth place.

Team Picnic PostNL coach Matt Winston said: “I think we did a good ride today. The guys showed some nice teamwork; they really looked after and fought for each other throughout the stage. After the climb they came back together in a good way and coming into the sprint we had good commitment and communication. Tobi was coming off of Sam’s [Welsford] wheel and was looking to launch his sprint but got impeded a little bit there and in the end it was fifth place. We got something out of it but had hoped for more.”

Results

  • 42.61/H
  • 128.8KM
  • 1253M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1WELSFORD SamRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe3:01:22-
2MARIT ArneIntermarché - Wanty,,-
3COQUARD BryanCofidis,,-
5ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
32ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
52LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
55KOERDT BjoernTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
82VAN DEN BERG JuliusTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
119EDDY PatrickTeam Picnic PostNL0:25-
120EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL0:50-

21st January – Stage 1: Prospect – Gumeracha

The opening day of the Tour Down Under saw the peloton tackle a 150 kilometre long route and despite some rolling hills, it was a stage destined to end in a bunch sprint finish. Team Picnic PostNL had a dual goal in the day, to keep GC finisher Oscar Onley safe and go for it in the finish with Tobias Lund Andresen. With the break caught the team moved up well, avoiding a late crash and bringing Lund Andresen towards the front. However, on the fast and hectic run-in Lund Andresen had to hit the brakes at one point as the gap squeezed in front of him, and from there he lost his momentum and position near the front. Fighting back, he showed some speed to come around some competitors, ultimately finishing in 11th place on the day.

Lund Andresen said: “It was good to get the season started again with the boys. We rode very well as a team and pretty much to how we planned until around two kilometres to go. There, I lost the wheel of Pat and had to gamble to get back in it, and unfortunately I got squeezed out. My feeling on the bike was good though, so I’m optimistic to improve on things tomorrow.”

Results

  • 43.759/H
  • 150.7KM
  • 1595M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1WELSFORD SamRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe3:26:38-
2BRENNAN MatthewTeam Visma | Lease a Bike,,-
3WALLS MatthewGroupama - FDJ,,-
11ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
58EDDY PatrickTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
81ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
82LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
93KOERDT BjoernTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
102EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
111VAN DEN BERG JuliusTeam Picnic PostNL,,-