Impressive Impey on top in Tour first
DARYL Impey has created history as the first South African to claim the Tour Down Under crown.
Riding for Australian team Mitchelton-SCOTT, Impey finished with the lead bunch on the final stage in Adelaide to add his name to the illustrious list of champions to have won the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere.
German Andre Greipel, nicknamed the Gorilla, again showcased his powerful sprint to win the final stage. The victory, his second this year, extended his record number of stage wins in the TDU to 18.
“I’m thrilled; coming into the race I didn’t expect to win,” Impey told Channel 9. “Sometimes the stars line up and everything goes well and according to plan.
“I worked really hard in the off season and I’m happy to get the win.
“The win goes to my family in South Africa. They have sacrificed a lot and I dedicate this to them. The final stage was
THE WIN GOES TO MY FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA. THEY HAVE SACRIFICED A LOT AND I DEDICATE THIS TO THEM. THE FINAL STAGE WAS HECTIC, THERE WAS A LOT AT STAKE DARYL IMPEY
hectic, there was a lot at stake.
“I’ve been in this position before with (former teammate) Simon (Gerrans) trying to defend the jersey. I was prepared for that but it certainly is more nerve-racking when you have got the jersey yourself.”
Australian sprint star Caleb Ewan, who led the tour for two days, blasted clear and looked to have the final 90km stage in his keeping.
But Greipel, not to be outdone, pounced with a welltimed burst to grab Ewan near the finish line.
“Towards the finish I had to wait as long as possible,” Greipel said. “Caleb came like a cannonball from the back, I could lay off and then pass him in the last metres.
“Experience helps a lot. We did not want to make a full lead out, keep our position and it worked out perfectly.”
Meanwhile, second-place finisher Richie Porte said he would love to have Rohan Dennis with him at the Tour de France in July after crediting his fifth Willunga Hill stage win to his BMC teammate.
Having finished second in the Tour Down Under for the third time in four years yesterday, Porte said Dennis would be crucial in the biggest race of the year.
“Patrick Bevin rode all day and everyone played their part on Saturday but Rohan won me the stage, 100 per cent,” Porte said.
“Without a second hesitation, when Simon Gerrans said (on the radio), ‘hey Rohan, when it slows down here, you need to put the pace on,’ he did.”
Dennis plans to ride the Giro d’Italia in May but his program beyond that is not clear.