Team UniSA Men take on the world’s best
It was a monumental week for some of the brightest up and coming riders from within Australia. Coming together from all backgrounds to form the UniSA team and take on the Tour Down Under; going toe-to-toe with some of the world’s best.
Stage 01
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Today’s Stage looped its way through the beautiful Vineyards of the Barossa Valley. Starting and ending in Tanunda, the 150km Stage consisted of 5 laps of a relatively flat, but very scenic circuit. Mitchelton-Scott controlled the race early to collect an early time bonus. It was not until 15km in that Jarrad Drizners forced his way into the day’s breakaway. What then transpired was an impressive display of Drizner’s raw potential, as he outgunned his breakaway companions in both of the first KoM and Sprint points. His ride was enough to secure him the KoM Jersey, the second year in a row a NRS alumni find themselves leading this classification. As the break was bought back, Sam Welsford then had a chance to go head to head with some of the world’s best sprinters, repeating his top ten finish from the Schwalbe Classic in today’s stage. Today showed that the future of Australian cycling is definitely bright
Stage 02
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The TDU found itself in the Adelaide Hills for today’s stage 2. As the peloton rolled out from the town of Woodside we were quickly reminded of the devastation the recent bushfires had on the area, blackened trees and charred farmland dotted the environs. NRS rider Sam Jenner opened his TDU account, initiating the day’s break as the flag dropped. Jenner contested the day’s KoM points in an attempt to defend teammate Jarrad Drizners’ Leaders Jersey, however, he was bested by CCC rider and 2-time US TT Champion Joey Rosskopf. It was not long after the break entered the Sterling circuit they were collected by a charging peloton. What followed was an incredibly rapid 4 laps of the infamous ‘hills circuit’. A nervy and fatigued peloton caused a crash in the final 2km, bringing down Drizners and Lindorff. However, they collected bunch time as the crash was within the final 3km, keeping them both in the GC hunt. The NRS guys have a great opportunity to show their strength in the first real test tomorrow, as stage 3 finishes on the incredibly punchy Torrens Hill Road climb.
Stage 03
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the first real test of the GC legs today as the riders took on the Paracombe climb up Torrens Hill Road. The young Aussies kept themselves safe in the bunch today, opting not to attempt any early moves after two consecutive days in the break. Although the day looked to be a straightforward GC test up to final climb, it wasn’t until the final few kilometres that the peloton was able to reel back the break’s last rider Miles Scotson. UniSA did well to line it up with the WorldTour teams in the final launch down the Gorge Road in an effort to set up Drizners and Lindorff in the final. Tyler was unlucky to be caught up in a fairly heavy crash with 6km to go as the race turned up Torrens Hill. Tyler was able to make his way to the finish, while Drizners showed exactly why he’s made the step up to the pro ranks, powering his way to a top 20 place on the brutally steep final climb.
Stage 04
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It was one for the fast men today as the TDU headed out to Murray Bridge. Mitchelton controlled things early as they looked to collect the stage’s bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint points. The day’s break was kept on a tight leash as the big teams controlled the front all day. Despite a strong 5-man break, the race was all back together with 30km to go, and the NRS guys worked their way to the front to try and set Cam Scott up for the win. Continuing a horrible stretch of bad luck, Tyler Lindorff was bought down in a crash with Mitch Docker in the last 10km and was taken to hospital. Kell O’Brien hit the deck shortly after as he was ridden off the road. Drizners kept his hopes of a top 10 on GC alive with a strong finish against the world’s best sprinters, a bittersweet finish given the day’s crashes.
Stage 05
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A day full of curveballs and surprises on stage 5 as the TDU headed out to Victor Harbour. Kicking off in the seaside suburb of Glenelg, the race was controlled early by Mitchelton-Scott and Trek Segafredo who looked to contest the intermediate sprints. True to his word pre-race, Sam Welsford then found his way into the day’s break, swapping off with the likes of world champion Mads Pederson. As the break was split by a flurry of attacks, Sam Jenner launched from the peloton to help Welsford bridge back on. The days KOM point and late crosswinds split the bunch, causing the sprinters to have to spend the last 15km chasing back on. Drizners did incredibly well to position himself for the final sprint, keeping himself in the hunt for the young riders jersey leading into tomorrow’s final stage up Willunga Hill.
Stage 06
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An exhilarating end to the Tour Down Under with today’s stage to the iconic Willunga Hill. With almost all teams making a last-ditch effort to secure some TDU glory, 26 riders made their way into the day’s early break including Sam Welsford and Cam Scott. Once the GC teams were happy with the composition of the day’s break, the 26 riders were given a long leash, establishing a gap that peaked at almost 5 minutes. Welsford did well to contest the day’s sprint efforts against legendary sprinter Andre Greipel. The break was soon obliterated up the first ascent of Willunga, with only the beat climbers keeping content over the hill’s summit. Jarrad Drizners was still in touch with the main group up the final ascent, yet when Richie Porte attacked as anticipated it was only young Brit Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudan) that could hold on to Richie’s furious accelerations. Holmes did more than hold the wheel, rounding Porte on the final corner to take his first WorldTour victory, in his first WorldTour race no less, while Richie did enough to secure the overall classification. Drizners has impressed enormously this week, finishing just outside the top 20 in his first WorldTour race, doubtlessly onwards and upwards for the endlessly talented young Aussie as he prepares for his first European race season with Pro Continental team Hagens Berman Axeon.