Lund Andresen outsprints Brennan and Welsford to win Tour Down Under opener

The first road stage was 120.6 kilometres on a three lap circuit around Tanunda, raced in warm conditions that kept the day steady until the finale demanded full attention.

The early kilometres were restless. Attacks went almost as soon as the flag dropped, with Martin Urianstad (Uno-X Mobility) and Guillaume Martin Guyonnet (Groupama-FDJ United) among the first to get a gap, and Marco Brenner (Tudor Pro Cycling) briefly jumping across to make it three. UAE Team Emirates-XRG shut it down quickly, riding hard to control the run in to the first intermediate sprint and its bonus seconds.

That plan worked out, as defending champion Jhonatan Narváez took the maximum three seconds, with Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) behind him.

Soon after, a more durable break formed. Urianstad went again, Martin Guyonnet returned, and Enzo Paleni (Groupama - FDJ United) joined to make a three man group that became the shape of the race for the next hour and a half.

Behind them, the sprint teams began to settle into their work. Ineos Grenadiers and Visma | Lease a Bike repeatedly moved to the front, signalling their intent for Welsford and Brennan, and they were later joined by other squads as the wind lifted and the pace rose in the second half of the stage.

As the laps counted down, the break’s advantage shrank steadily. The second intermediate sprint in Angaston passed with the leaders taking the bonus seconds among themselves. Paleni later pressed on alone after the final intermediate sprint, but he was caught inside the final seven kilometres.

The final run in was tense, packed with teams fighting for wheels and a line into the last kilometre. Several squads tried to take control, but Ineos Grenadiers, who had looked well placed, lost their structure at the critical moment.

Decathlon CMA CGM moved up in the final rush, and Gudmestad delivered Lund Andresen into the sprint at exactly the right time. The Dane launched early and held his speed all the way to the line. Brennan and Welsford came fast and late, but neither could come around, with Brennan taking second and Welsford third after being briefly boxed in.

With the stage win, the 23-year-old Lund Andresen takes over the race lead, holding a one second advantage on Watson, with Vernon a further second back. 

The general sense in the finish area was that the jersey may not stay put for long. Stage 2 brings more climbing and a more selective route, and it should ask different questions of the contenders.