Tour Down Under: Sam Welsford wins opening sprint stage and takes over ochre jersey

Sam Welsford has had his first pro race with BORA - hansgrohe today and the German team did perfect teamwork. The Australian sprinter was the fastest in the end and is the first race leader.

The first main pro race in the men's peloton began this morning in Australia with Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Wanty) and Louis Barré (Arkéa Samsic) forming the day's breakaway. Two riders who could aim for GC, they seemed to ride into the day's bonifications, as they they then waited for the peloton and were caught with just over 60 kilometers to go.

A very hot day into Tanunda but the riders took it easy throughout the afternoon. The sprinters' teams rode to the front of the peloton in the final kilometers to fight for positioning, Luke Plapp leading the peloton for large kilometers for Team Jayco AlUla.

BORA - hansgrohe took over the front of the peloton in the final kilometer with Ryan Mullen and Danny van Poppel doing the leadout. Caleb Ewan launched a powerful sprint, matched by Phil Bauhaus, but on the opposite side of the road Welsford had the most speed and took an important win to start off the year. Phil Bauhaus and Biniam Girmay finished second and third on the day.