A headwind sprint has made for an intriguing start to the 2019 Santos Tour Down Under, with Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Elia Viviani taking the line for Ziptrak® Stage 1 and winning the honour of holding the Santos Ochre Leader’s jersey ahead of Novatech Stage 2. Today there were 92,000 fans lining the race route.
On the finish line Elia Viviani, Deceuninck – Quick – Step said:
“There was a headwind as expected. We planned for that. Normally these conditions make a chaotic sprint and it was indeed. Even with 1km to go, we didn’t look in the best position; it was about finding the space. I could keep the draft for quite a long time. It’s a good win. The first of the year after a fantastic 2018 season that has put on a bit more pressure now. I’m obviously very happy with that. It makes me feel relaxed already but a sprinter is always hungry for more.”
Photo credit @cauldphoto
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