Equatorian Jhonatan Narvaez won the Down Under Tour on Sunday in Adélaïde, the first World Tour of the season, after the 6th and last stage won by Australian Sam Welsford. This is the first victory in a stages race for the Equator champion who joined the UAE team of Tadej Pogacar this winter. Winner the day before the Reine stage in Willunga Hill, he is ahead of the Spanish Javier Romo (Movistar) in the final classification. The young Frenchman Bastien Tronchon finishes fifth.
This victory has a taste of revenge for Narvaez, 27, who finished second last year with the same nine second gap on the British Stephen Williams. “”Finally we can savor. This last step was one of the hardest of the week because it was dangerous. Not easy when 150 runners try to take a turn at 70 km/h but it is cycling“Commented the double stage winner on the Giro who almost went to the ground during a massive fall in the last lap.
“This victory means a lot for me. Start the season so with my new team, I couldn't dream better“, He added. The last step was won at the sprint by Welsford (Red Bull-Bora) which leaves with three bouquets this week. He was ahead of the French Bryan Coquard, winner of the 4th stage, and the German Phil Bauhaus.
Classification of the 6th and last step:
1. SAM WELSFORD (AUS/RBH) 90.0 km in 1 h 53:14. (average: 47.8 km/h)
2. Bryan Coquard (FRA/COF) tous m.t.
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER/TBV)
4. Rui Oliveira (by/UAD)
-5. Danny Van Poppel (ND / RR)
Final general classification:
1. Jhonatan Narvaez (ECU/UAD) 19 h 19:16.
2. Javier Romo (ESP at 9.
3. Finnher-Black (NZL / RR) 12.
4. Oscar Onley (GBR/DFP) 15.
5. Bastien Tronchon (from/DAT) 24.
