Sagan Sprints to Green Jersey Success Down Under

Peter Sagan confirms his first Tour Down Under green jersey victory after taking third on final sprint

Having taken a stage win on what had been the toughest sprint of the race on stage 4, the UCI World Champion, Peter Sagan, starting the day in the green jersey of points leader, would be looking to take the victory on the race’s final stage. In spite of a strong ride, where the BORA-hansgrohe team worked hard to drop him in position, a hectic bunch sprint saw Peter finishing in third on the line. The points taken in the finale saw Peter crowned as the winner of the points contest for the first time, while Jay McCarthy finished the race having put in a brave ride in the GC contest.

Photo Credit: © BORA - hansgrohe / Bettiniphoto

Just 90km remained of the Tour Down Under, and it was back to the streets of Adelaide for the closing criterium-style stage. Featuring a more challenging circuit than the People’s Choice Classic that opened the race, the final stage saw twists and turns and short, sharp climbs on a 4.5km route ridden twenty times. Time bonuses would be available on two intermediate sprints, which meant there was still everything to race for, not to mention the glory of taking the victory on the last day of the race, with the flat finale tailor-made for a bunch sprint.

The GC race looked to have already been decided, but with a bunch sprint predicted for the final day of the race, it was a chance for the UCI World Champion, Peter Sagan, to confirm his position in the race’s points contest, starting the day as the green jersey holder. Holding an advantage of nine points over the second placed rider, the Slovak rider would be looking to consolidate his hold on the jersey, while also setting his sights on taking some additional glory with his second win of the race.

While the finish meant a bunch sprint was likely, this didn’t stop the breakaways from trying to change the stage’s outcome. Attempts were made, but it wasn’t until past the halfway point that an attack finally stuck, going out on lap ten of twenty, the two escapees making up for the later start by gradually increasing their lead. However, in spite of the best efforts of the break, building an advantage of more than two minutes, by lap eighteen it was all back together, and the preparations began in the peloton for the sprint finish. With two laps still to go, the pace was fast and the racing frenetic, and as the kilometres passed by, it was BORA-hansgrohe’s turn to take control at the front, leading Peter Sagan to the finale. With the sprint starting early, Peter found himself boxed in, taking third position on the line. While he was unable to take his second stage win of the race, he was able to cement his position as the winner of the points contest.

"Last stage at the Tour Down Under and another very hot day. As expected, everything was decided in the bunch sprint. We followed our plan, the guys protected me throughout the race and set me well for the finale. It was a good sprint but not enough to win the stage. It was a good Tour Down Under for me, I scored my first stage victory in this race and I took my first green jersey. I feel that the team as well had a very good week, thanks to the dedication, excellent teamwork and team spirit that exists. It's a good start to the year. Last but not least, thanks to all the people that helped organise this very good race." – Peter Sagan

Photo Credit: © BORA - hansgrohe / Bettiniphoto

"I think that we can be satisfied we what we achieved in the Tour Down Under and I consider the start of the 2018 season to be a positive one. Peter pulled on the green jersey, he won a stage and the People's Choice Classic, while yesterday we gave it our all for the victory at the queen stage. The entire squad put on a strong effort in every stage. Today, we had the fast-paced circuit through the streets of Adelaide and again the guys worked very well to position Peter with a perfect leadout in the final lap. Peter finished third, which was another good result. As I said, overall, it was a good week for BORA-hansgrohe." – Patxi Vila

VIDEO: 2018 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 6 Highlights

2018 Santos Tour Down Under - Stage 6 Top 10 Results

1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal 2:01:19 
2 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott   
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe   
4 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb   
5 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors   
6 Steele von Hoff (Aus) UniSA-Australia   
7 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates   
8 Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo   
9 Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Movistar Team   
10 Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-Alpecin

2018 Santos Tour Down - Final Overall Classification Top 10

1 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 20:03:34 
2 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team   
3 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 0:00:16 
4 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:20 
5 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors   
6 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Sky   
7 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida   
8 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:23 
9 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo   
10 Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:24 

2018 Santos Tour Down - Sprinters Jersey Top 10 

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 64  pts
2 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 56 
3 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors 52 
4 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 42 
5 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb 36 
6 Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe 32 
7 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 32 
8 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal 30 
9 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 29 
10 Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-Alpecin 25

2018 Santos Tour Down - Kings of the Mountains Jersey Top 10

1 Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data 48  pts
2 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 36 
3 Scott Bowden (Aus) UniSA-Australia 26 
4 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 17 
5 Simon Gerrans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 16 
6 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 12 
7 William Clarke (Aus) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 12 
8 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 8 
9 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 8

2018 Santos Tour Down - Young Riders Jersey Top 10

1 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Sky 20:03:54 
2 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:03 
3 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:04 
4 Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Sunweb   
5 Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb   
6 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors   
7 Ben O'Connor (Aus) Dimension Data 0:00:06 
8 Scott Davies (GBr) Dimension Data 0:00:25 
9 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:49 
10 Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo 0:05:04

2018 Santos Tour Down - Team Classification Top 10

1 Bahrain - Merida 60:11:50 
2 Team Dimension Data 0:00:26 
3 Quick - Step Floors 0:01:04 
4 Team Sunweb 0:01:06 
5 AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:36 
6 EF Education First - Drapac 0:05:37 
7 Trek - Segafredo 0:06:37 
8 UAE Team Emirates 0:07:20 
9 BMC Racing Team 0:07:36 
10 Team Lotto Nl - Jumbo 0:10:37