Results Women’s Tour Down Under 2026 Stage 3 | Noemi Ruegg beats UAE trio to win stage and overall in Campbelltown

Noemi Ruegg defended her Women’s Tour Down Under title in dramatic fashion, winning the final stage in Campbelltown after surviving a three-on-one battle against UAE Team ADQ on the brutal double ascent of the Corkscrew.

The 126.5 km stage from Norwood was shaped by constant attacking and a long breakaway before the general classification fight finally exploded on the first climb of the Corkscrew. Early in the day, Carina Schrempf and Mikayla Harvey built a big lead, at one point holding almost six minutes as the peloton hesitated behind. Their move was only brought back on the approach to the Corkscrew as GC teams began to organise.

As soon as the road pitched up for the first time, race leader Ally Wollaston was dropped, ending her hopes of overall victory. A select group then formed over the top, featuring Mavi Garcia and Dominika Wlodarczyk for UAE Team ADQ, Sarah Van Dam, Noemi Ruegg and several others.

On the descent and run into Campbelltown, Garcia and Wlodarczyk teamed up to isolate Van Dam, before Wlodarczyk went clear alone. She carried a small advantage into the second ascent of the Corkscrew, but Ruegg bridged back across, with Paula Blasi and Garcia also joining, leaving the Swiss rider outnumbered three to one.

UAE Team ADQ tried repeatedly to crack Ruegg on the climb and descent, but she followed every move. The four riders reached Campbelltown together, and despite the numerical advantage for UAE, it was Ruegg who produced the fastest sprint to take both the stage and the overall title.

Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi completed the podium overall behind Ruegg. Blasi also secured the Queen of the Mountains jersey, while Wollaston retained the points classification on countback. Justyna Czapla finished as best young rider.

Ruegg becomes a back-to-back overall winner of the Women’s Tour Down Under, sealing the race with a ride that combined climbing strength, tactical awareness and a decisive sprint when it mattered most.