The Ecuadorian Jhonatan Narvaez won the Tour Down Under on Sunday in Adelaide, the first World Tour event of the season, at the end of the 6th and final stage won by the Australian Sam Welsford. This is the first victory in a stage race for the Ecuadorian champion who joined Tadej Pogacar's UAE team this winter. Winner the day before the main stage at Willunga Hill, he is ahead of the Spaniard Javier Romo (Movistar) in the final general classification by nine seconds. The young Frenchman Bastien Tronchon finished fifth.
This victory has a taste of revenge for Narvaez, 27, who finished second last year with the same gap of nine seconds over the Briton Stephen Williams. “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“, commented the double stage winner at the Giro who almost went to the ground during a massive fall in the last lap.
“This victory means a lot to me. Starting the season like this with my new team, I couldn't dream of better“, he added. The last stage was won in a sprint by Welsford (Red Bull-Bora) who leaves with three bouquets this week. He beat the Frenchman Bryan Coquard, winner of the 4th stage, and the German Phil Bauhaus.
Ranking of the 6th and final stage:
1. Sam Welsford (AUS/RBH) the 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 (NED/RBH)
Final general ranking:
1. Jhonatan Narvaez (ECU/UAD) 19 h 19:16.
2. Javier Romo (ESP at 9.
3. Finn Fisher-Black (NZL/RBH) 12.
4. Oscar Onley (GBR/DFP) 15.
5. Bastien Tronchon (FRA/DAT) 24.
