Thrilling showdown at the Tour Down Under Women’s race

The Tour Down Under Women’s race finished today with a thrilling finale in Adelaide. The defending champion, Noemi Ruegg of EF Education-Oatly, came to the line with three riders from the UAE Team ADQ team and still triumphed to win her second TDU.

The first two stages of the race were won by Kiwi sensation Ally Wollaston of FDJ United-SUEZ, who proudly wore the Ochre jersey for Stage 2 & 3, finishing in 39th place overall.

Stage 1

Start & Finish: High Street, Willunga

Distance: 137.4km

New Zealander Ally Wollaston secured the Santos Tour Down Under Ochre Leader’s Jersey and a stage victory for the second time in two years on Saturday.

This time, FDJ United-SUEZ’s Wollaston claimed victory on High Street, Willunga, after she rocked the race in a bunch sprint finish in Campbelltown during the Ziptrak Stage 1 in 2024.

“I had full trust in my team and where we would get the break back,” Wollaston said.

“We were fully committed to the plan of sprinting, so the girls had full belief in me. The girls (teammates) rode so amazingly, they were all there for me and the final (sprint).

“Amber (Kraak) rode the front basically the whole race (and) I really owe that to them. I’m so thankful that I could finish it off for the girls.”

As the race was nearing its end, defending Santos Tour Down Under winner Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatly) and record-breaking three-time champion, Australia’s Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) moved to the front of the peloton with just 15km before the Willunga finish line.

Wollaston, however, had too much power after Canada’s national time-trial champion, Olivia Baril, earned her team Movistar’s first bonuses at their debut Santos Tour Down Under UCI WorldTour race.

Stage 2

Magill to Paracombe

Distance: 130.7km

Ally Wollaston on Saturday said she had promised to honour the Santos Tour Down Under leader’s jersey, and on Sunday, she did in style.

However, the Kiwi alluded to the Hyundai stage 3 – Norwood to Campbelltown – as potentially being out of reach for the affable allrounder.

The back-to-back steep Corkscrew climbs before the superfast descent finish on Maryvale Road, Athelstone is destined to test Wollaston’s resources and her teammates’ resilience.

“I think it could be a miracle if I make it over (Corkscrew), but yeah, I was still give it a good shot,’’ Wollaston said. 

“But yeah, our whole team has to really sit up with really strong riders, we’re looking forward to it” 

Wollaston defended the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey with a perfect performance as Health Partners Stage 2 started from Magill for the first time in TDU history.

Wollaston claimed the win after a gallant sprint to the Paracombe finish line after her team, FDJ United-SUEZ, delivered an astounding platform for the reduced sprint to the summit.

“It was bloody tough that route, yeah, was a really tough day out there,” Wollaston said.
“But they’ve (rivals) put a lot of pressure on our team to chase in the final, and there was a very, very strong breakaway.

“So we’re lucky that we had the strength to bring it back, but it was pretty touch-and-go there and the final ascent.”

Stage 3

Norwood to Campbelltown

Distance: 126.5km

Swiss rider Noemi Ruegg claimed consecutive Santos Women’s Tour Down Under titles for the first time since Australian legend Amanda Spratt completed a hat-trick of victories in 2019.

Ruegg, 24, powered to the top of the general classification after beating three star rivals from UAE Team ADQ to win the final Hyundai Stage 3 on Maryvale Road, Athelstone, on Monday.

“Yeah, we came into the race with ambition to defend the GC (general classification),’’ Ruegg said.

“And for a stage win as well. I knew I was in great form, but I still hesitated a bit. I wasn’t sure how well I would actually do.

“But the other team believed in me so much, and we had a plan every day that we committed to, and everyone was so committed and trusted in me.

“Every day we could execute our plan almost to perfection, today totally to perfection.”

Ruegg incredibly outwitted three riders, UAE Team ADQ’s Dominika Wlodarczyk, Paula Blasi and Mavi Garcia, 500m from the finish line to earn the coveted crown for a second time.

Ruegg appeared to be out of gas for the first Corkscrew Road climb.

However, she received a new lease of life when UCI World Champion teammate Magdeleine Vallieres nursed the Swiss star back to life where she had aggressively overcome the Corkscrew Road for the second time.

“I knew if I went into the last 500m with them (UAE Team ADQ members) then nothing can happen anymore,” Ruegg said.

“I didn’t want to believe it (the win) too early, but it’s crazy.”

Ruegg and the rest of the UCI WorldTour Women’s peloton return to action on Wednesday afternoon for the Vanguard women’s one-day race for valuable UCI points in Tanunda.

Hyundai Stage 3 Winner: Noemi Ruegg (EF Education Oatly)

Santos Ochre General Classification: Noemi Ruegg (EF Education Oatly)

Ziptrak Sprint Classification: Ally Wollaston (FDJ United – SUEZ)

efex Queen of the Mountain Classification: Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ)

MyWhoosh Young Rider: Justyna Czapla (Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto) 

Yamaha Most Competitive Rider: Carina Schrempf (Fenix Premier Tech)

Wilson Parking Team: UAE Team ADQ

Best South Australian: Sophie Edwards (ARA Australia)