Simon Gerrans wins the 2016 Tour Down Under
Caleb Ewan wins final day sprint in Adelaide
Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) safely negotiated the final stage of the Tour Down Under to claim an unprecedented fourth overall title while his team also celebrated the stage victory with Caleb Ewan. The win was the sixth from six stages for Australian riders in the sole Australian WorldTour race.
Ewan was the first to launch his sprint on the finish straight as he powered away in his low aero position for his second, and Orica-GreenEdge’s fourth, stage of the race. Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) held off Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) for second place as Gerrans crossed the line in 11th place.
“It obviously wasn’t just a good week for me, the team showed this week that they are by far the strongest,” Ewan said immediately after winning the stage. “Going into the race with two ambitions of trying to win sprint stages and the GC with Simon but I think he did it perfectly and I am so happy we came away with four stage wins and overall.
Ewan started the sprint in less than ideal position but once he launched, there would be no stopping the 21-year-old.
“I actually got caught a fair way back coming down here, ideally I wanted to be in the first eight wheels but I was way back in the bunch and had to dive in inside the corner, I locked up a few times and it was a bit sketchy but luckily I got into position that I wanted to and my team came up in the end to help me and they placed me behind Sky which was the perfect place to be.”
For Gerrans, a fourth overall win ten years on from his first was built on the back of wins on stage 3 and 4 to see the 35-year-old also take the lead in the WorldTour standings.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more of the guys this week, they really did a sensational job this week. They kept me up the front and out of trouble this week and we tried to get Caleb the best run to the line that we could but what a fantastic week we’ve had.
"We are so lucky to have this race here in Australia, its fantastic to the race the Santos Tour Down Under with Orica-GreenEdge, an Aussie team wining the only WorldTour race we have in Australia, the opening WorldTour race of the season. It’s just awesome, a great way to star the season
How it unfolded
A five-man break of Laurens De Vreese (Astana), Lieuwe Westra (Astana), Carlos Verona (Etixx-Quick Step), George Bennett (Lotto Jumbo) and Adam Phelan (Drapac) managing to get 20 seconds clear at maximum but they were brought back on lap 5.
Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Maarten Tjallingii (LottoNL-Jumbo) jumped away following the catch on lap 6 with Sam Spokes (Drapac) trying to bridge across. Nathan Earle continued Drapac’s aggressive approach to the stage as he jumped off the front in pursuit of De Gendt and Tjallingii.
On lap 7, Cannondale and Tinkoff moved riders forward to try and bring back De Gendt and Tjallingii ahead of the intermediate sprint point. Tjallingii rolled across for the maximum points as Tinkoff lead out Jay McCarthy for the one bonus second, challenged by Cannondale who were looking after Michael Woods, but it was Daryl Impey stealing in for third place.
A crash at the back of the peloton brought down Floris Gerts (BMC) and Anthony Roux (FDJ) on lap 10 as De Gendt rode over Montefiore Hill to claim maximum points with the breakaway’s advantage reaching 30 seconds at the half-way mark of the stage, which averaged 46.6kmh for the first hour.
Trek-Segafredo and UniSA-Australia sent Peter Stetina and Pat Lane, respectively, to control the pacemaking ahead of the second intermediate sprint point. On the approach to the finish, Johan Le Bon (FDJ) jumped clear to try and join the two-leaders as De Gendt won the sprint point without contest. The IAM Cycling-led peloton crossed the line 30 seconds down as Le Bon was shortly back in the bunch.
On Lap 15 the peloton had trimmed the breakaway’s advantage to leave it around 20 seconds. Tjallingii was awarded the combative rider prize as he crested Montefiore for the second KOM prize. On lap 16 Astana attacked the peloton via Laurens De Vreese and Lieuwe Westra as Tjallingii rode away from De Gendt.
Tjallingii was then joined by Westra on lap 17 with Drapac and Lotto Soudal at the front of the race. Dimension Data and Tinkoff came through to up the pace and caught the two leaders on lap 19.
Coming though on the bell lap, the Lotto Soudal and Tinkoff teams lead on other side of the road. Team Sky and Dimension Data moved forward while Luke Durbridge then upped the pace for the final climb over Montefiore Hill. Into the final kilometre and it was a foregone conclusion, with Ewan launching his sprint and simply powering away to claim his seventh win of 2016 by several bike lengths.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | 1:55:02 |
2 | Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Dimension Data | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek–Segafredo | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Adam Blythe (GBr) Tinkoff | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Marko Kump (Slo) Lampre–Merida | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Davide Martinelli (Ita) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Leigh Howard (Aus) IAM Cycling | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Steele von Hoff (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Soudal | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Juan José Lobato Del Valle (Esp) Team Movistar | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Koen De Kort (Ned) Giant–Alpecin | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Georg Preidler (Aut) Giant–Alpecin | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | José Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Team Movistar | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Luka Pibernik (Slo) Lampre–Merida | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Jay McCarthy (Aus) Tinkoff | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Rafael Valls Ferri (Esp) Lotto Soudal | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Enrico Battaglin (Ita) LottoNL–Jumbo | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Cameron Meyer (Aus) Team Dimension Data | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Giant–Alpecin | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Ruben Fernandez Andujar (Esp) Team Movistar | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Jascha Sütterlin (Ger) Team Movistar | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Steve Morabito (Sui) FDJ | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | David De La Cruz (Esp) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre–Merida | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Astana | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Daryl Impey (Rsa) Orica–GreenEdge | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek–Segafredo | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Peter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Jesús Herrada (Esp) Team Movistar | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Carlos Verona (Esp) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Louis Meintjes (Rsa) Lampre–Merida | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Chris Hamilton (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM Cycling | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre–Merida | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Federico Zurlo (Ita) Lampre–Merida | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Team Dimension Data | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Jesse Sergent (NZl) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Rein Taaramäe (Est) Team Katusha | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Nelson Oliveira (Por) Team Movistar | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek–Segafredo | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek–Segafredo | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica–GreenEdge | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL–Jumbo | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay (Eth) Lampre–Merida | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Marcel Aregger (Sui) IAM Cycling | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | 0:00:12 |
78 | Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Soudal | 0:00:14 |
79 | Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Bert De Backer (Bel) Giant–Alpecin | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Martin Velits (Svk) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Graeme Brown (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | 0:00:19 |
87 | Jack Bobridge (Aus) Trek–Segafredo | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Lucas Hamilton (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Etixx–Quick-Step | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Peter Stetina (USA) Trek–Segafredo | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Gavin Mannion (USA) Drapac Pro Cycling | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Sean Lake (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Patrick Lane (Aus) UniSA-Australia | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling | 0:00:25 |
100 | Murilo Fischer (Bra) FDJ | 0:00:26 |
101 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Soudal | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Samuel Spokes (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant–Alpecin | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Carter Jones (USA) Giant–Alpecin | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Cheng Ji (Chn) Giant–Alpecin | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Martijn Keizer (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | 0:00:42 |
111 | Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Movistar | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | David Tanner (Aus) IAM Cycling | 0:00:44 |
115 | Jaco Venter (Rsa) Team Dimension Data | 0:00:52 |
116 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Trek–Segafredo | 0:00:54 |
117 | Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | 0:01:14 |
118 | Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Esp) Astana | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 0:01:19 |
122 | Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
123 | Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ | 0:01:22 |
124 | Lars Boom (Ned) Astana | 0:01:23 |
125 | Songezo Jim (Rsa) Team Dimension Data | 0:01:27 |
126 | Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Dimension Data | 0:01:29 |
127 | Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ | 0:01:31 |
128 | Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
129 | Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
130 | Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky | 0:01:48 |
131 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
132 | Patrick Shaw (Aus) UniSA-Australia | 0:02:04 |
133 | Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Rsa) | 0:02:06 |
134 | Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bram Tankink (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | 3 |
2 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 2 |
3 | Daryl Impey (Rsa) Orica–GreenEdge | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 5 | pts |
2 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ | 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica–GreenEdge | 15 | pts |
2 | Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Dimension Data | 14 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek–Segafredo | 13 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Adam Blythe (GBr) Tinkoff | 12 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Team Katusha | 11 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky | 10 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Marko Kump (Slo) Lampre–Merida | 9 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Davide Martinelli (Ita) Etixx–Quick-Step | 8 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Leigh Howard (Aus) IAM Cycling | 7 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale | 6 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 3 | pts |
2 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) LottoNL–Jumbo | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |