Dygert wins final stage of Tour Down Under (after 18 months without a win), Ruegg holds off Smulders to claim GC

Chloé Dygert won the final stage of the Tour Down Under. The 28-year-old American from Canyon//Sram Zondacrypto was by far the strongest in the final sprint at the finish of Stirling Hill. Silke Smulders (Liv AlUla Jayco) finished second again after her second place on Willunga Hill, but that was not enough to knock GC leader Noemi Ruegg off the throne. The Swiss from EF Education-Oatly survived and claimed the GC.

The hilly finale was full of attacks, but attacks by Maike van der Duin and New Zealand champion Ella Wyllie, among others, were unsuccessful. The final kilometers were tricky but not enough to force a split. In the final meters, Nieve Bradbury led her American leading lady Dygert, who put everyone on a distance with a stellar acceleration, taking her first victory since the 2023 World Time Trial Championships.

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In the flash interview, the American mentioned a mixed feeling. "We came here to win the GC and a stage," she began. "Because the GC wasn't an option anymore, we worked hard to win this stage. We all rode extremely hard, and we're pleased it paid off.' Still, the final stage didn't quite go according to plan. 'I got frustrated because I thought it would go faster. We hoped fewer riders would be left, but it worked out in the end."

This should be the start of a great year that should be better than last season. "Last year, nothing went according to plan. Of course, we had a medal at the Team Pursuit, and I was on the podium at the World Championships, both the road race and the time trial. But they were not the results I had hoped for. Last year was not my year, but it was motivation to work harder for this year."

GC winner Ruegg was also delighted with the start of her year. She skillfully persevered in the tricky final stage by being attentive throughout and defended the lead she had built up on Willunga Hill. "It was a considerable challenge. They didn't make it easy, especially in the last few laps. I was nervous all day; I wanted to bring that orange jersey home. In the last two rounds, I followed all the attacks. I stuck with it, and I'm very happy."

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Dygert's last victory dates to 2023: the World Time Trial Championships in Scotland.

Nervous day full of attacks, but Ruegg withstands the pressure

The ladies set off on a 106-kilometer stage around Stirling, the town that has now become a regular at the Tour Down Under. After a nervous opening stage, Ella Simpson (St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93) was the only one to make an early breakaway. But alone, the Australian had little chance against the peloton. She was caught up with 37 kilometers to go. The course constantly went up and down, inviting more attacks. Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) were among the adventurers who tried to avoid a sprint.

GC leader Noemi Ruegg was mostly alone. She often had to take action in the tricky final 30 kilometers, and she did that brilliantly. Tiffany Cromwell, Dygert's teammate, was the most active rider, but she got no margin. When she failed, Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto attacked: Van der Duin snuck away on a descent, but the chasing group remained too large to favor the solitary breakaway rider. When the Dutch rider was overtaken, her team switched gears and went for the sprint with Dygert, who completed it dominantly.

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