Nat Bromhead
Sam Welsford marked his 28th birthday in grand fashion with a third Santos Tour Down Under triumph, conquering the Hahn Stage 4 from Murray Bridge to Port Elliot.
The Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter dominated the competition, securing a hat-trick of stage wins, a feat not seen since Caleb Ewan’s four-stage victory in 2017.
Welsford, expressing the significance of winning on the day he turned 28, praised his team’s remarkable support.
“It’s pretty special to get a win on my birthday,” Welsford said. “For a minute I almost forgot it was my birthday because I was so into the race. The boys did an amazing job looking after me.”
Welsford finished ahead of Eritrean star Binian Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty).
The Ziptrak Sprint Jersey remains with the Western Australian fast man, while Isaac Del Toro maintains a 40-second lead as the overall race leader. The 20-year-old Del Toro remains cautious about the upcoming challenging stages, aiming for success at the Think!
Road Safety Stage 5 and the race’s culmination at Mount Lofty summit. Luke Burns retains the efex King of the Mountain Jersey, and young rider Jackson Medway claims the Yahama Most Competitive Jersey after an impressive performance alongside Vinicius Rangel.
