Thibaut Simon, Media365, published on Sunday January 26, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
During the last stage of the Tour Down Under, the Australian Sam Welsford won like last year. In the general classification, Jhonatan Narvarez secures his first place to win the Australian race.
The first race of the season delivered its verdict in Australia. During the 6th and final stage of the Tour Down Under around Adelaide, local Sam Welsford (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) won in a controlled sprint at the end of the 90 kilometers of racing. He won his third stage of the week. While two falls weighed down the end of the race – Narvaez the leader was almost part of it – the leading group led by Welsford, the Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and the German Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) argued the final victory. No miracle for the French who saw the Australian ahead of him. Bastien Tronchon (Decathlon AG2R LMT) finished 14th in this 6th stage.
-Narvaez wins the Tour Down Under, Tronchon 5th
This stage victory did not prevent the Ecuadorian Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) from winning overall. After winning the Willunga Hill race the day before, the man who joined Team Pogacar this winter won this first stage of the World Tour. He is ahead of Spaniard Javier Romo (Movistar Team) by 9 seconds and New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), third at 12 seconds. For the Blues, the first Frenchman is Bastien Tronchon who takes fifth place in this Tour Down Under, 24 seconds behind. Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) is on the verge of the Top 10 with a 12th place.
For Narvaez, it's a nice revenge taken compared to last year. The Ecuadorian finished second, also nine seconds behind British leader Stephen Williams. Double stage winner at the Giro (2020, 2024), Narvaez can appreciate his first success of the season with his new team. “Finally we can enjoy it. This last stage was one of the hardest of the week because it was dangerous. Not easy when 150 riders are trying to take a turn at 70 km/h but that’s cycling,” said commented Jhonatan Narvaez.
