Sprint home delivers top prize to US rider
AUSTRALIAN cycling queen Amanda Spratt’s reign in the Women’s Tour Down Under is over, with American Ruth Winder taking out overall honours.
Simona Frapporti (Bepink) upstaged the big guns to win Sunday evening’s final stage around a tight Adelaide street circuit, with Lauren Stephens (Tibco-SVB) and Rushlee Buchanan (New Zealand) filling out the podium.
But US road race champion Winder did just enough to preserve her overall lead and become the first international rider to win the general classification in the five-year history of the women’s event.
National road race champion Amanda Spratt looked set for a fourth victory when she took the ochre jersey from compatriot Chloe Hosking after winning stage two. Spratt had never before relinquished the overall lead after claiming it on her way to a hat-trick of titles.
But Winder took control with a gutsy sprint finish on stage three – her first Tour Down Under stage win – and held on to her advantage during a tough final stage to create a slice of history.
German rising star Liane Lippert (Sunweb) was second in the general classification, with Spratt third.
■ Caleb Ewan fired an early shot ahead of the Tour Down Under, winning the Schwalbe Classic for a record fourth time.
Lotto-Soudal’s Ewan sat at the back of the peloton for half of the 30-lap race before clawing his way towards the front and easily winning a sprint finish.
State one of the 2020 Tour Down Under begins on Tuesday.