Tour Down Under ladies: Rüegg gagne

Rüegg overtook the best climbers during the summit finish at Willunga Hill. The 23-year-old from Zurich from the EF Education-Oatly team broke away just over 500 m from the finish and finished ten seconds ahead of Dutchwoman Silke Smulders. Elise Chabbey, who now races for the FDJ-Suez team, took 7th place 26 seconds behind.

“I have no words to express how I feel,” Rüegg said in the post-race interview, unable to hold back his tears of joy. Thanks to her first victory at the highest level, she has a good chance of finishing the three-day event as leader.

Before the final hilly stage, she is 15 seconds ahead of Smulders. The profile and slight uphill sprint at Stirling should suit him.