Wind-buffeted Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under saw a thrilling conclusion as Ethan Vernon secured victory, while second-place overall Jhonatan Narvaez was forced to withdraw after a heavy crash within the opening 10 kilometers. Despite the stage's shortened distance, it was a highly competitive affair with sprinters getting an unexpected third chance at glory.
Vernon's explosive acceleration proved decisive, with Decathlon CMA CGM's leadout seemingly flawless. However, the team had too many riders, causing Tobias Lund Andresen to be boxed in. Despite this, Andresen sprinted for second place, with Laurence Pithie claiming a solid third for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Jay Vine, the leader in the ochre jersey, maintained his position, but Narvaez, his teammate and second overall, suffered a heavy crash and was forced to withdraw. This marked the first time a defending champion at the Tour Down Under has abandoned since Andre Greipel in 2009.
Vernon expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, considering the stage's unexpected nature and the losses of Corbin Strong and Jake Stewart. He noted the wind's significant impact, causing stress and crashes, and mentioned that the team had studied the finish from previous men's and women's races.
The blue sprint jersey went to Tobias Lund Andresen, while Martin Urianstad secured the mountains jersey. Andrea Raccagni Noviero, with a full team leadout from Soudal-QuickStep, gained three seconds in the second intermediate sprint, taking over the white young rider's jersey.
The fifth and final stage, on day six, featured eight brutal laps around Stirling, covering 169.8 kilometers. With the stage's change, this final day became the main GC day of the race, following the Uraidla stage a few days prior.
The stage unfolded with a significant route alteration due to extreme heat and bushfire risks. The original 176-kilometer stage, featuring three ascents of Willunga Hill, was reduced to 130.8 kilometers, starting in Brighton and finishing in Willunga Township, with no Willunga Hill ascents. The finish mirrored the women's race on stage one earlier in the month.
The day started hot in Brighton, with temperatures already in the 30s Celsius, despite an earlier start. The highest temperatures were forecast to reach 43 degrees Celsius by the finish. However, the wind and the threat of echelons in the peloton dominated the conversation at the start.
Racing commenced with immediate attacks, including Matthew Greenwood (Australia) and KOM leader Urianstad. However, the break didn't go smoothly as various teams sought to join, and Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (Groupama-FDJ United) brought them back.
A strong trio of Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla), Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ United), and Greenwood went away, with a small advantage over the peloton. Oliver Bleddyn (Australia) tried to bridge the gap but couldn't keep up, being swallowed by the bunch.
During these developments, Narvaez, the defending champion and second place overall, crashed heavily and was forced to withdraw, becoming the first defending champion at the Tour Down Under to abandon since Andre Greipel in 2009.
Back at the front, the break remained unclear, with a minute-long gap and several teams taking the front due to nervous riders. The first KOM of the day on Chandler's Hill saw Cavagna take 10 points, followed by Greenwood and Plapp. Urianstad swept up important KOM points, and Rudy Porter (Jayco-AlUla) took the solitary point in fifth.
As the race progressed to McLaren Vale, the gap between the peloton and the break grew dramatically, with Plapp vocalizing as they powered along. The leading teams in the peloton were Ineos Grenadiers, EF Education-EasyPost, Bahrain Victorious, and Jayco-AlUla, despite having Plapp up the road. However, the pace was not very high.
With 88 kilometers to go, the pace changed as the peloton turned and changed direction with the wind. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe took the front, followed by Ineos Grenadiers, EF Education-EasyPost, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Visma-Lease a Bike. The movement led to another crash, forcing Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Jake Stewart, and Corbin Strong (both NSN) to withdraw.
Up the road, Cavagna took KOM points on the first passage of Low Willunga Hill, followed by Greenwood and Plapp. After the peloton passed the KOM, which was also the finish location, the pace changed as riders formed echelons. The gap to the break widened significantly in about 10 kilometers.
As the pace calmed, several riders returned to the peloton, and the gap started to drift out again for Cavagna, Plapp, and Greenwood. They took turns, and the peloton tried to up the tempo, but faced headwinds alongside Aldinga Beach for the intermediate sprint at Snapper Point.
Plapp rolled across the line at the intermediate sprint, taking bonus seconds, with Cavagna and Greenwood completing the podium. The break rode well together, but Cavagna appeared to struggle in the brutal heat.
The peloton had reduced the gap to a minute and a half with 50 kilometers to go. A couple of kilometers later, Cavagna dropped off the back, sitting up to wait for the peloton, which was not far behind. The Australian National Team hit the front of the peloton despite having a teammate in the breakaway.
The final KOM on Low Willunga Hill was taken by Greenwood, with Plapp on his wheel, and Callum Scotson (Decathlon CMA CGM) took the remaining two points from the peloton. The peloton closed rapidly, closing to nine seconds before sitting up and allowing the gap to drift slightly with 30 kilometers to go.
The break made it to about 300 meters before the second and final intermediate sprint in Snapper Point, where Soudal-QuickStep took their chance. Raccagni Noviero sprinted for the three bonus seconds, taking over the white jersey. Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla) took two seconds ahead of Alastair Mackellar (EF Education-EasyPost).
After the intermediate sprint chaos, the pace dropped off, with teams keeping things steady and safe after losing riders to earlier crashes. This steady pace continued until just over 7 kilometers to go, when the bunch was spread across the road, but the pace had started to ramp up.
Into the final 5 kilometers, a mix of sprinters' and GC teams took the front of the peloton, with various squads spread across the road. Several riders struggled to move their leaders to the front due to the packed front of the bunch.
As the pace rocketed, Decathlon CMA CGM took control with huge numbers in the final few hundred meters. However, Lund Andresen was boxed by his own men and caught out by Vernon's early launch. Lund Andresen still managed second place, securing his blue points jersey. Pithie was third.
Results will be available soon.
