Tour Down Under 2015: Bobridge best of four

In the 133 kilometres stage from Tanunda to Campbelltown Jack Bobridge, Lieuwe Westra, Luke Durbridge and Maxim Belkov take control. In the last 200 metres Bobridge jumps to victory. The other three arrive metres ahead of the chasing peloton. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour Down Under 2015: Results 1st stage

1. Jack Bobridge (aus)
2. Lieuwe Westra (Nld) s.t.
3. Luke Durbridge (aus) s.t.
4. Maxim Belkov (rus) s.t.
5. Niccolo Bonifazio (ita) s.t.
6. Gianni Meersman (bel) s.t.
7. Juan José Lobato del Valle (spa) s.t.
8. Heinrich Haussler (aus) s.t.
9. Steel von Hoff (aus) s.t.
10. Daryl Impey (Rsa) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Jack Bobridge (aus)
2. Lieuwe Westra (Nld) + 0.04
3. Luke Durbridge (aus) + 0.06
4. Maxim Belkov (rus) + 0.10
5. Niccolo Bonifazio (ita) + 0.13
6. Gianni Meersman (bel) s.t.
7. Juan José Lobato del Valle (spa) s.t.
8. Heinrich Haussler (aus) s.t.
9. Steel von Hoff (aus) s.t.
10. Daryl Impey (Rsa) s.t.

Race report
With no neutral start the attacks are everywhere in the opening kilometres. Luke Durbridge, Lieuwe Westra and Maxim Belkov are the first to succeed and are quickly joined by Bobridge. The four escapees race to an advantage of 2’30” with 15 kilometres done.

The pack starts the Chase after 50 kilometres and when cresting Checker Hill the gap is down to 0’30”. With 29 kilometres left the escapees-party seems to end, however, the four of them have another opinion. At 5 kilometres from the finish line their advantage has gone up to 0’40”.

That is just enough. With a chasing peloton at their back a sprint seems underway, but Bobridge decides to jump at 200 metres from the finish line. He wins the stage and takes bonification seconds.

The pack is too late, but has the same time as Bobridge et al.