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Porte pounces on crucial second stage of Tour Down Under

BMC's captain takes over race lead, Woods ninth on day

January 17, 2017
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Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) showed why he’s touted to give Chris Froome a run for his money at the Tour de France this summer by winning Tuesday’s tough stage of the Tour Down Under. Porte takes over the ochre leader’s jersey from compatriot Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott), winner of Tuesday’s opening stage.

The profile of Wednesday’s 148.5-km second stage was full of jagged teeth, with plenty of climbing in the five circuits around Stirling and then a short, steep KOM haul up to the Paracombe finish via Torrens Hill Road. Some consider Stage 2 to be the queen stage instead of Stage 5 that ends on Willunga Hill. Wednesday was a much cooler day than Tuesday.


As the riders headed downhill after the gun, Cameron Meyer (Australia/UniSA) and Bahrain-Merida’s Czech Ondrej Cink attacked. This raid didn’t last long as the day’s first intermediate sprint was at the 23-km point. There, Ben Swift gave UAE-Abu Dhabi its first notable moment of the season.

Movistar’s German Jasha Sütterlin ripped away solo once the dust had settled. Sütterlin took a maximum of 5:00 over the peloton and was first through the stage’s second intermediate sprint at the 65.9-km mark.

The German’s big day out expired at with 40-km remaining and the showdown on Torrens Hill Road looming. Sky, BMC and Bahrain-Merida maneuvered to the front as the field plunged down from Norton Summit. Both Rohan Dennis and Sergio Henao suffered mechanicals leading to the pivotal climb. Orica-Scott and Movistar drove on.

The final climb was 1.2-km of 9.9%. With several teams interested, many riders went off the back before the grades kicked up. Porte and a handful riders took the lead and then Porte lost everyone. Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-Scott) and Gorka Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) tried to keep close tabs on Porte, but BMC’s main man, multiple winner on Willunga Hill and twice Tour Down Under runner-up, would not be denied.

Michael Woods finished ninth, 19-seconds behind in a 17-rider group including Henao and is 16th on GC.

Thursday’s stage swings the favour back to the sprinters.

Santos Tour Down Under Stage 2
1) Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) 3:46:06
2) Gorka Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) +0:16
3) Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-Scott) s.t.
9) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale-Drapac) +0:19

Santos Tour Down Under GC
1) Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) 7:10:14
2) Gorka Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) +0:20
3) Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-Scott) +0:22
16) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale-Drapac) +0:29