On paper, it was a stage suited for sprinters, but the Brighton / Snapper Point, the first stage of the Tour Down Under 2025, was decided thanks to the winning attack by Daniek Hengeveld. The 22-year-old from the Netherlands, who moved this year from Dsm (now become Picnic PosNL, ed.) to Ceratizit, escaped the group's control when fifty kilometers remained to the finish line, gained an advantage and maintained it beyond the line, celebrating her first victory in a World Tour race. 36" behind Hengeveld, the peloton was led by New Zealander Ally Wollaston (FDJ Suez) with Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health) in third position, Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit WNT) fourth, and Rachele Barbieri (Team Picnic PostNL), the best Italian, in fifth place. The winner Daniek Hengeveld is naturally also the first leader of the Australian stage race, which will experience its second stage tomorrow with a finish at Willunga Hill.

The first real action of the day was initiated by Alyssa Polites, racing with the Australian National Team. Breaking away from the group about twenty kilometers after the start, the 21-year-old athlete was caught thirty kilometers later.

After Polites was recovered by the peloton, Daniek Hengeveld (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team) attacked, immediately taking a handful of seconds advantage. In an attempt to catch the 21-year-old from the Netherlands, Erica Magnaldi (UAE Team ADQ), Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health), Elise Chabbey (FDJ – SUEZ), Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco) moved first, and later, solo, Greta Marturano (UAE Team ADQ). However, the pursuit proved futile, and the breakaway leader continued to gain time, passing the Yankalilla Intermediate Sprint, located thirty kilometers from the finish line, with an advantage of over 2 minutes on the group.

7 kilometers from the finish line, Hengeveld was still reported with a 1'30" advantage over the group, and not even the high pace set by Chloé Dygert served to bring the peloton back together for a sprint.

FINISH ORDER

1 HENGEVELD Daniek CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team 02:45:06

2 WOLLASTON Ally FDJ - SUEZ 00:36

3 SCHWEINBERGER Kathrin Human Powered Health ,,

4 VAN DAM Sarah CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team ,,

5 BARBIERI Rachele Team Picnic PostNL ,,

6 RÜEGG Noemi EF-Oatly-Cannondale ,,

7 VAN DER DUIN Maike CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ,,

8 COPPONI Clara Lidl - Trek ,,

9 GRANGIER India Team Coop - Repsol ,,

10 FITYUS Lucie St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 WE ,,