2020 Tour Down Under Stage 4 Results & Recap
Stage 4 of the 2020 Tour Down Under is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Ewan makes it three at TDU
Caleb Ewan confidently took his third win of the season today, sprinting from behind his rivals to win by a bike length ahead of Sam Bennett and sprint leader Jasper Philipsen. Despite multiple crashes and tight corners before the line in Murray Bridge, the Lotto Soudal phenom found perfect positioning to capitalize on Deceuninck – Quickstep’s lead out train.
“We knew there was going to be a lot of wind once we turned on to the flat part of the course,” Ewan said after the stage. “I was never in trouble, the team did such a good job today to make sure I had the legs for the finish.
“It was a very tight corner in the finish, but to be honest I like it when there’s a turn before the finish. I was exactly where I wanted to be for the finish.
“Tomorrow is one of those stages that could go either way. Last time I did it, I got dropped on the climb, so I hope things go my way tomorrow.”
Richie Porte successfully defended his ochre jersey for another day, but was challenged by Daryl Impey who picked up valuable seconds at the intermediate sprint bonuses.
From Norwood, the riders set off on the longest stage of the tour – 158km. There were a few tentative attacks that came to nought as Michelton Scott were keen to keep things together for the intermediate sprint. Impey managed to take 1 second on the first sprint, and two seconds on the second sprint, which took three seconds out of the Ochre leader’s team.
Quickly, a break formed after Impey was done collecting bonuses. Jorge Arcas (MOV), Laurens De Vreese (AST), James Piccoli (ISN), Joseph Rosskopf (CCC) and Sergio Samitier (MOV) slipped away with about 100 kilometres left in the stage.
With the breakaway up the road, Rosskopf picked up 10 more points in the KOM competition after cresting the only classified climb of the day in first, but was slightly threatened by De Vreese, who attacked early on the climb, but faded at the summit.
The race settled in a bit before the finale, and the peloton kept the break at a manageable two minutes before cranking up the tempo and catching the five with 30 kilometres to go.
The peloton spread across the road, all waiting for the last minute to organize their lead out trains. With five kilometres to go, the intensity rose to 100 percent, and Deceuninck – Quickstep asserted themselves at the front for Sam Bennett. For a moment it looked like the Irishman would take his second victory, but the Australian pocket rocket shot out from behind and took the win by a bike length.
Richie Porte (Trek - Segafredo) leads the Tour Down Under by three seconds ahead of defending champion, Daryl Impey (Mitchelton - SCOTT). Rosskopf is leading the KOM competition by a large margin and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) is the best in the sprint competition. Pavel Sivakov (Team INEOS) is still leading the best young rider standings.
Tomorrow's stage from Glenelg to Victor Harbor will feature a tough climb up Kerby Hill before descending to the finish 20 kilometres later. If the sprinters can get over the climb intact, then they'll be eying the stage win\n
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