JENS VOIGT
Our race columnist on the latest events
The Tour Down Under, the first WorldTour race of 2019, just finished in Australia and I had the fortunate position to be there working for the organisation and as a part of the Channel 7 TV crew. Looking back at the result, it was a wonderful display of teamwork and loyalty from Mitchelton-Scott. And it was more proof to me that good things happen to good people. I can hardly imagine a winner more deserving then Daryl Impey. Years and years of loyal service in the team to several leaders and sprinters and now, for the second time in a row, he got the best possible start to the season with the overall win. Daryl is not only a very good bike rider but also just a great guy, so when I had the honour to do the winner’s interview with him for Channel 7, I’m not sure whose smile was wider – his or mine.
Looking at the way he won, his team played their cards really well. They tried to snatch bonus seconds when they could, knowing that head-to-head, Daryl would struggle to match Richie Porte on the final climb up Willunga Hill. And with the race organisation putting that hilltop finish in the last stage for the first time, Daryl and his team realised there would be no time after that stage to change the overall standings.
He needed a minimum of 10 to 15 seconds before Willunga, and his team did a brilliant job helping Daryl to achieve just that. That wasn’t easy, because Daryl had to race against the likes of Caleb Ewan and Peter Sagan and Elia Viviani to get these bonus seconds.
I just love Daryl’s determination and tenacity. We all know that he is a great rider but he’d be the first to admit that he’s a little less fast then the fastest sprinters. Conversely, he does great on climbs but maybe a little less then Porte. In the end, he bested all the others and came out winning.
Porte was second overall, but he showed his form is coming and things look promising for the season – he’s still aiming at the podium spot in the Tour de France.
“I just love Daryl’s determination and tenacity. We all know that he is a great rider but he’d be the irst to admit that he’s a little less fast then the fastest sprinters”
Team Sky, despite the fact that their sponsorship will end in December, showed great spirit and teamwork and placed Wout Poels on the podium, too. That was Australia, and the season has already started in Europe too. A certain Marcel Kittel won the Trofeo Palma on Mallorca. He looks ready to make his mediocre 2018 into a distant memory. Can he come back to his best level and win Tour stages again? Even more interesting is the question of how the king of sprinters Mark Cavendish will do in 2019. After two seasons with ‘only’ one win per year, I am sure he is more hungry then ever and desperately wanting a comeback. Talking to him recently he gave me the strong impression that he is as keen as always; he still seems fearless and confident that he will rule again. And why not? He has already had a few comebacks after people had him written off. Simply another reason for him to become the best again. To me, this all looks like a real promising start into the season already.