UAE Team Emirates – XRG secured a double in the Norwood/Uraidla stage, the second stage of the Tour Down Under covering 148 kilometers: Jay Vine conquers the victory and the leadership of the Australian race, ahead of his teammate Jhonatan Narváez with whom he animated the final part of a challenging stage.
Behind the Emirates team duo, a first chasing group was led by Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) who crossed the finish line in third position, 58" behind the winner; in fourth place was Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility) who preceded Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick-Step), fifth and best Italian of the day. Matteo Sobrero (Lidl Trek) also performed well, completing the stage in eighth position.
The decisive move came thirteen kilometers from the finish, when Adam Yates and UAE Team Emirates began to set the pace in the peloton. Shortly after, Vine attacked and Narváez followed him on the Corkscrew climb. The leading pair's advantage quickly grew while in the group, Zana, Sweeny, Tesfatsion, and Schmid organized the chase, controlled by Adam Yates: thus forming the first chasing group that however failed to catch the breakaway riders.
Before Vine's attack, the stage was animated by: Martin Urianstad Bugge (Uno-X Mobility), Storm Ingebrigtsen (Uno-X Mobility), Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Lucas Stevenson (Team Brennan), Joel Suter (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) and Fran Miholjević (Bahrain – Victorious) who had attacked immediately after the stage start.
The Tour Down Under will restart tomorrow from Henley Beach with Vine in the "ochre" leader's jersey for the third stage, which will end in Nairne after 140 kilometers.
STAGE RESULTS
1 Vine Jay UAE Team Emirates - XRG 03:36:42
2 Narváez Jhonatan UAE Team Emirates - XRG ,,
3 Schmid Mauro Team Jayco AlUla 00:58
4 Kron Andreas Uno-X Mobility ,,
5 Zana Filippo Soudal Quick-Step ,,
6 Tesfatsion Natnael Movistar Team ,,
7 Yates Adam UAE Team Emirates - XRG ,,
8 Sobrero Matteo Lidl - Trek ,,
9 Sweeny Harry EF Education - EasyPost ,,
10 Brenner Marco Tudor Pro Cycling Team ,,
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 Vine Jay UAE Team Emirates - XRG 06:23:33
2 Narváez Jhonatan UAE Team Emirates - XRG 00:06
3 Schmid Mauro Team Jayco AlUla 01:05
4 Sweeny Harry EF Education - EasyPost 01:12
5 Brenner Marco Tudor Pro Cycling Team 01:14
6 Kron Andreas Uno-X Mobility 01:16
7 Leonard Michael EF Education - EasyPost 01:22
8 Raccagni Noviero Andrea Soudal Quick-Step ,,
9 Yates Adam UAE Team Emirates - XRG 01:23
10 Charmig Anthon Uno-X Mobility ,,