Tour Down Under 2018: André Greipel outsprints Caleb Ewan in stage 1

The 1st stage of the 2018 Tour Down Under is a 145 kilometres race between Adelaide and Port Lydoch. In the ensuing bunch sprint André Greipel times it perfectly to best Caleb Ewan. The German is the first overall leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2018 Tour Down Under

1. André Greipel (ger)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
3. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
4. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
5. Simone Consonni (ita) s.t.
6. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
7. Nathan Haas (aus) s.t.
8. Matteo Montaguti (ita) s.t.
9. Ramunas Navardauskas (lit) s.t.
10. Riccardo Minali (ita) s.t.

GC after the 1st stage
1. André Greipel (ger)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) + 0.04
3. William Clarke (aus) z.t.
4. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.06
5. Nikolas Dlamini (rsa) s.t.
6. Nathan Haas (aus) + 0.09
8. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
9. Simone Consonni (ita) s.t.
10. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.

Race report
Only 10 kilometres into the race and three escapees are almost 5 minutes ahead of the peloton: Scott Bowden, Nicholas Dlamini and Will Clarke. Bowden is the first to quit, while Clarke is the last mn standing after three hours. Yet, with 10 kms left he is gobbled up also.

Ewan's men and Viviani's men set off their sprinter in good position, both on one side of the road. But Greipel sails past in the middle to pocket the victory with Ewan in second and Sagan in third, while Viviani comes in fourth.