As it happened: Defending champion overcomes odds to claim overall victory at Women's Tour Down Under
Peloton tackles Corkscrew Road in 126.km Norwood to Campbelltown finale
Women's Tour Down Under 2026 route
Absence of Willunga Hill creates wide-open 2026 Women's Tour Down Under – Analysing the contenders
Race Situation
Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) wins stage 3 and the overall
Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 3 - the Queen stage - of the Women's Tour Down Under, and the first dual assault on Corkscrew Road in the race’s history.
Stage 3 of the Women's Tour Down Under is set to start in about 10 minutes. On tap is a testing 126.5km stage from Norwood to Campbelltown, which will finally bring the climbers to the fore. Two ascents of the punishing Corkscrew Road await – representing 434 metres of vertical. And it’s not only the uphill effort that will challenge the peloton, but also five-kilometre descents of Montacute Road towards Campbelltown that will test riders' skill and nerves.
Here’s what race director Stuart O’Grady said about stage 3: “This is the first time we’ve started the women’s race in Norwood, so are expecting big crowds and a fantastic atmosphere before the riders embark on a stunning race route highlighting the beauty of the Adelaide Hills. An all-out final showdown on the Corkscrew Road climb may deliver our 2026 winner.”
Our Australian editor at the start in Norwood reports that it's slightly less cooking start today but anticipation is high, sure there are some teams that will try and smash it in the climbs. Word is that there is also some potential for crosswind action.
Double stage winner Ally Wollaston (FDJ United-SUEZ) tops the general classification with a 14-second advantage to second-placed Josie Nelson (Picnic PostNL) and 17 seconds on defending champion Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly).
Nelson will soon find out if the pay-off from the hard work can keep rolling into a tough stage 3.
Riders are rolling out of Norwood for a long neutral section out of the city which means that the first climb for this closing stage comes just 10 kilometres into racing proper.
Rüegg also leads the points classification with 17 points on Nelson, and 19 points on Rüegg.
Riders are fairly relaxed on the neutral rollout.
Crashes on stage 1 and heat on stage 2 took a toll on the peloton, which is now down to 74 riders.
A touch of wheels in the peloton by Australian champion Machenzie Coupland, looking backwards as she raised her hand.
After talking to her DS in the Liv Alula Jayco car, Coupland stopped by the side of the road to get a new race radio from DS Jess Allen.
Coupland is back in the peloton and flag drop by race director Stuart O’Grady!
Peloton is 6km away from the first challenge of the day, the cat. 2 climb up Kangaroo Creek Reservoir near Castambul, which extends over 2.2 kilometres and has an average gradient of 5%. Its steepest section, though, clocks in at 13.3%.
Color-blocking at the front as teams are organizing, lining up behind their teammates.
Human Powered Health hasn’t had an easy run at the Tour Down Under this year, as, through a combination of illness and injury, the squad is now down to three riders - Marit Raaijmakers, Carlotta Cipressi and Nina Buijsman, who has just switched over from FDJ-SUEZ. Despite the small team remaining Buijsman is still solidly positioned heading into the final stage, tenth overall at 24 seconds in arrears, after finishing eighth on a challenging stage 2.
“It speaks volumes on Nina to be able to be riding so well with only two supports, so we're looking at it in the positive sense of, for the rest of the season, being in a really strong position,” Human Powered Health sports director Clark Sheehan told Cyclingnews before the start of stage 3.
“And yesterday, seeing the riders come in, they were pretty spent and exhausted, but Nina still had life in her … so really, who knows what the race in the future holds, but I feel pretty optimistic. We're hoping for a lot, but to get a top 10 in the World Tour race for us … it’s a real victory at this point.”
The EF Education-Oatly teammates, world champion Magdeleine Vallieres and defending champion Noemi Rüegg, shared their thoughts on the Seven broadcast at the start in Norwood.
When asked if the rainbow jersey brought more space and respect in the peloton, Vallieres replied, “I think we're getting - with the team - a lot of respect, but also because of Noemi winning last year, I think we're a team for contenders for the win. So yeah, I think people are respecting us more.”
Rüegg, who sits third overall, added, “I think the GC is still quite open, but we are going to try everything to go for the win in the GC. And I think we have a super strong team to do this. I have a lot of trust in the girls, and yeah, I'm excited.”
Peloton is still together as they approach the first QOM of the day. Mountain classification leader Blasi is at the front.
200 metres to the top of the climb. Blasi is at the front behind her teammate while rival Koster is in the middle. Realini is boxed in.
Blasi easily picks up more points and attacks immediately come at they crest the climb led by Fenix-Premier Tech.
The attack caused a split at the front with a small group trying to escape. Having missed the move, Visma is leading the chase in the field.
Small move has been reeled back in as some riders at the back are struggling to hold on.
Attack by Anouska Koster, and more riders follow but nothing gets away.
Race leader Wollaston moves to the front to set the pace. As more riders take over on the descent.
UAE Team ADQ may have lost a gastro hit Brodie Chapman yesterday, but even without her, they still have a most formidable line-up for the final stage and are well positioned with the powerful Mavi Garcia, Dominika Wlodarczyk and Paula Blasi all sitting in the group of riders 24 seconds back from race leader Wollaston.
DS Michel Cornelisse explained that the team didn’t come with a sprinter, so the focus for them has always been stage 3.
“Stage three is, for us, the best stage,” he told Cyclingnews before the start of stage 3. “We have a few good climbers, and the first two stages were also okay for us. We did not lose time - that was the biggest danger. And today it's going to happen and will decide who is going to win the Tour Down Under.”
Peloton still together with 110km to go.
Second major attack of the day by Austrian Carina Schrempf of Fenix-Premier Tech.
Schrempf is not looking back and keeps pushing on her pedals. She does have a gap. Will we have another solo break for the third day?
Schrempf's teammates are at the front of the peloton, seemingly disrupting any attempt to chase.
Wait!
Coupland looks behind her to see the damage. Peloton is chasing with some earnest, and Koster goes again covered by the Australian champion.
Peloton all together.
Major attack by SD Worx and Visma rider!
Both riders - Harvey and Reijnhout - were at the back of the field when they attacked with 103km to gom causing a response in the peloton.
Rosita Reijnhout and Mikayla Harvey are chasing solo rider Schrempf hard, trying to close the 51 second gap.
Reijnhout, is on the radio, and sits up from the chase while Harvey continues on.
More attacks from the peloton. causing another split.
Mikayla Harvey joins Carina Schrempf in the break with 98.7km to go. The duo has 50 seconds on the field.
Peloton is taking a breather, spread across the road as they pass the Big Rocking Horse
The two riders in the break are not seen as real GC threats. Harvey is 1:19 down and Schrempf is 1:58 back.
Ella Wylie stops and gently puts her bike on the side of the road. Unknow if it is mechanical at this point.
Fenix-Premier Tech team car, heavy on the horn, is trying to get past the peloton to make it up to Schrempf in the break.
Schrempf and Harvey have 1:43 on the peloton led by FDJ United-Suez with Wollaston sitting third wheel with 1.3km to go to first intermediate sprint.
The two riders in the break roll through the sprint line with Schrempf crossing the line first.
Behind Movistar is jostling for position. Their leader Baril jumped for the bonus seconds in the sprints on stage 1
Movistar vs FDJ for the one-second bonus and 1 point.
Movistar accelerates first but Wollaston crosses the line for third place in the intermediate sprint, taking the one second bonus and the 1point.
Paula Ortiz attacks and Wollaston jumps on her wheel.
Attacks nullified in the peloton while Schrempf and Harvey have a 1:44 lead with 89km to go.
AG Insurance is upping the pace in the pack.
Break now has a 2:15 gap
First sighting of kangaroos!
Schrempf and Harvey are working well together, taking turns at the front. They now have 2:45 on the field with 82km to go.
Gap has ballooned to 4:05 as no team has taken control of the peloton. Everyone seems to be looking at EF.
Make it over five minutes now for the duo up the road with 77km to go.
Still no real reaction from the peloton to close the gap, though UAE is now massing at the front on the right side of the road while Fenix was on the other side, trying to disrupt any attacks or chase.
UAE and EF chatting, thumbs up, and they are organizing a rotation to try and bring the gap down.
The peloton is getting serious about closing the over five-minute gap, with UAE, EF and Lidl each putting in a rider in the chase rotation at the front.
Harvey missed her bottle in the feedzone so she grabs bottles from the neutral car. Schrempf is pouring bottles onto her head. Both riders have ice socks for another wam day.
1.5km to go to the second intermediate sprint. Break of Schrempf and Harvey still have 5:02 on the peloton.
Once again, the break rolls through the intermediate sprint led by Harvey this time.
Wollaston is moving up to get ready for the upcoming sprint to take that final point and Kraak takes over the front.
Movistar's Carys Lloyd is going for the time bonus second, denying the point for Wollaston.
The acceleration nibble one minute from the gap, now down to 3:53 inside of 63 km to go.
Lloyd, who was third in the intermediate sprint, has abandoned.
Today’s side quest - soigneur 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/4yD2Qu1OQDJanuary 19, 2026
Peloton is keeping the 2-rider break on a tight leash now. The gap is 2:40 with 47km to go.
Break is flying down a descent at 91.3kmph. Schrempf makes it look easy.
Peloton is stretching out on the descent, with gaps appearing with riders of different technical skills as they speed down the road.
Dygert had a near miss, taking a very wide turn at the front on the descent, but she holds it up.
Different teams, such as Canyon, SD Worx and Picnic, coming to the front of the peloton with the gap to the 2-rider break at 2:20 with 37km to go.
Jostling for position at the front of the peloton as they race towards the first time up Corkscrew.
EF, Lidl are massing on one side of the road, Liv is coming up the middle and Canyon is on the other side of the road. Everyone wants the front.
Lidl at the front with Amanda Spratt in second wheel. Spratt did promise an attack today before the start.
2.5k to go to the top of the Corkscrew. Break has 1:06 as the battle for position continues. Defending champion Rüegg is well placed behind her teammates.
The average gradient for the 2.4km Corkscrew climb is 9.7%, kicking up to a brutal 16.2% in places.
Race leader Wollaston is dropped as riders are being shelled at the back of the peloton under pressure on the climb.
Inside of 25km to go, the break of Schrempf and Harvey is caught.
Garcia, Vallieres, Van Dam and Wlodarczyk are pushing forwards as Rüegg loos to be in trouble.
Vallieres dropped back to help her teammate Rüegg as Garcia, Wlodarczyk and Van Dam push on.
Harvey who was the breakaway has managed to stay with the Rüegg and Vallieres group.
Wlodarczyk leads over the top, followed by Garcia and Van Dam. Small gap of 11 seconds to the chasers with Spratt, Rüegg.
And now the riders take on a technical five-kilometre descent. World champion Vallieres is leading the chase.
Chasers include Benito, Vallieres, Harvey, Ruegg, Blasi, Dickson and Spratt.
UAE duo of Garcia and Wlodarczyk are trying to get Van Dam to work.
Neve Bradbury and white jersey Czapla and Baril are in the third group on the road.
Lead trio goes through the corner which is 500 metres to go before the finish line,and they get a feel for the finish line as they sprint for the intermediate sprint.
Garcia had some words with Van Dam with 17km to go, and Wlodarczyk attacks. Van Dam closes it down.
Vallieres is still leading the chase group followed by Ruegg, Blasi and the others.
More attacks in the lead trio. This time it's Garcia. Van Dam quickly covers but it briefly gapped Wlodarczyk.
Wlodarczyk now has a small gap while Garcia sits on Van Dam who is working to close the gap.
Correction on the intermediate sprint results. Van Dam crossed the line first ahead of Wlodarczyk. Garcia was third. This would explain the UAE attacks to drop the Canadian.
With 13km to go. Wlodarczyk has 12 seconds on Van Dam and Garcia. Group 2 and group 3 are joining together and they are about 40 seconds back.
Van Dam is looking over her shoulder now but Garcia will continue to sit on with Wlodarczyk off the front.
Wlodarczyk's gap is increasing, now at 23 seconds with 11km to go, and one more ascent of the Corkscrew to come before a final dash to the line.
The Chase group, led by Lidl and EF caught Van Dam and Garcia.
Wlodarczyk continues to press on with 8km to go, as Movistar is making its way to the front of the chase group.
Still EF chasing, first Alice Towers, then Vallieres with 2km to the top of the Corkscrew.
Wlodarczyk has no water bottles on her bike as she climbs the cat.1 Corkscrew.
Wlodarczyk has 33 seconds on the chasers while Vallieres cracks and sits up.
Wlodarczyk is rocking and rolling, coming towards the steepest part of the climb. Gap at 28 seconds with 6.8km to go.
As the chase group splits up, Spratt attacks on the climb.
Rüegg is 15 seconds to Wlodarczyk, and more riders are charging up.
Rüegg with Garcia and Blasi on her wheel, catches Wlodarczyk, but Blasi counters and attacks.
Blasi accelerates near the top with Garcia and Ruegg holding on behind her. Wlodarczyk is in fourth wheel.
3 against 1 as Ruegg is with 3 UAE riders Blasi, Garcia and Wlodarczyk as they crest Corkscrew and fly down to the finish line.
Spratt, Van Dam, Benito and Dickson are in a chase group close behind.
Rüegg is making sure that she's always in second place in the 4-rider lead group with 4km to go.
UAE keep attacking. First Wlodarczyk, then Blasi but Rüegg is responding to every attack.
Wlodarczyk goes on the radio and then attacks, and Rüegg closes it down again.
Blasi goes, then Wlodarczyk goes. Rüegg closes it inside of 1km to go.
Finish line is in sight. Garcia accelerates first, then Blasi goes, but Rüegg comes over and wins the stage and the Women's Tour Down Under again!
Noemi Rüegg wins stage 3 and the overall for the second year in a row. Mavi Garcia was second and Paula Blasi third on the stage and also in the final general classification.
Let’s hear from overall and stage 3 winner ,Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
“Honestly, I cannot believe it. I'm totally overwhelmed. Yeah, it's crazy, like I won the race last year, and of course, we have the ambition to do it again this year, but it's always harder to defend. But like my team, I just have to say they are the best. I cannot believe it, like they were so committed. They had so much trust in me. They believed in me more than I [did], and that gave me so much confidence. And Magdeleine, she pulled this breakaway back like crazy. And honestly, I thought we should better ride for Mags, because I struggled a lot the first climb, and I didn't believe in it, I really didn't believe in it. But then I came over the second climb pretty well and found myself with the three UAE girls, and then just played the game and worked out. I’m super stoked.
About being 1 vs 3 in the finale: “I knew they would attack me like this, like they did. I mean, that's the only chance they had, so I just tried to follow the attacks immediately. Don't wait too long. I knew I had a strong acceleration, so I just followed them, and it was a really fast road. The slipstream helped a lot. And then in the end, they kind of did the lead out for me, which is great as well. So just sprinted and enjoyed it.”
Let’s hear from Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) who finished third overall, and won the QOM classification.
“It's nice to have the jersey, but with this final, it is now a bit hard to be happy. I think we're gonna be happy of how things work, how strong we are. So for sure, good things will come in the future, but now we just need to see what's happened and try to learn.”
Our race report, results, and photos can all be found here: Noemi Rüegg outsprints UAE Team ADQ rivals to win stage 3 and claim overall for second year in a row
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