photo credits @ TDU
Sam Welsford moved a step closer to being crowned the unofficial king of Tanunda after winning back-to-back Santos Tour Down Under stages in the Barossa town on Wednesday.
The Health Partners Stage 2 victory saw Welsford retain the Santos Ochre Leader’s jersey, which he will proudly wear during Thursday’s potential general classification challenging efex Stage 3 from Norwood to Uraidla.
Welsford conquered Tanunda in 2024 to secure his first UCI WorldTour win in his home race but was made to work much harder to claim his fifth stage win of the Santos Tour Down Under after yesterday’s victory at Gumeracha.
The West Australian star looked to be in serious trouble early in the race. He crashed after a touch of wheels about one kilometer from the Health Partners Stage 2 start.
The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe gun bravely closed out the 128.8km ride with gravel rash across his buttocks and legs and torn bibs before winning a bunch sprint ahead of Arne Marit (Intermarché-Wanty) and Bryan Coquard of Cofidis.
“That was bloody tough out there today, they didn’t make it any easier for me on that (final Menglers Hill) climb,” Welsford said.
“They (rivals) started launching attacks harder than expected but we had a good chase to get back on. My team worked hard. I said to them, Let’s just get to the line and if I’m in front I’m sure I can have a good sprint. The boys did a mega job bringing me back and still did a lead out which is pretty impressive today.”
Welsford’s Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team was controlling the main peloton at the end of the first lap into Tanunda, unfazed by a three-man breakaway that had a 1 min 42 sec gap.
The main peloton seemingly agreed to slow down with 75.3km before the finish line, in a bid to conserve energy as it appeared the stage was predictably heading towards a bunch sprint finish in Tanunda.
Sensing Welsford was strained following the first kilometre crash and after the last efex King of the Mountain climb, his team pushed hard to ensure the big sprinter was in peak condition for another fast finale.
Welsford made contact with the back of the peloton about 13km from the Tanunda finish line. After today’s win he holds the Ziptrak sprint jersey too.
ARA Australia’s Fergus Browning keeps the efex King of the Mountain jersey he worked hard for on Tuesday. Browning, 21, sits on 41 KOM points, 36 ahead of teammate Zac Marriage.
Great Britain’s impressive teenager Matthew Brennan (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) held on to the Zwift Young Rider jersey. The 19-year-old sits third in the general classification, just 14 seconds away from Welsford.
Georg Zimmerman (Intermarché-Wanty) claimed the Yamaha Most Competitive title after a superb day where the German wasn’t afraid to continually attack.
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