Photo gallery: Stage 1 of the 2018 Santos Tour Down Under
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) might have won Sunday’s People’s Choice Classic, but it’s Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) that has the bragging rights after the opening stage of the race proper.
Greipel overpowered Sagan, Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott), Elia Viviani (QuickStep Floors) and the rest of the field to take the first sprint stage of this year’s race and mark himself as the rider to beat in the remaining fast finishes.
Will Greipel strike again in the days ahead? Or will the other sprinters get their chance to celebrate? As we wait to find out, check out Tim Bardsley-Smith’s gallery of terrific photos from stage 1 of the 2018 TDU.
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- Aussie champion Alex Edmondson gets ready for stage 1.
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- Sometimes you just need your morning coffee.
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- Stage 1 started in Port Adelaide, giving some fans a terrific view of proceedings.
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- Richie Porte, the big favourite for the race overall.
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- Channel Nine’s Robbie McEwen chats with world champion Peter Sagan.
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- Lachlan Morton signs on.
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- Dimension Data’s principal Doug Ryder (right) is in town. He’s pictured here with Mark Renshaw, who’s competing in his 16th Tour Down Under.
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- The day’s breakaway: Will Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac), Scott Bowden (UniSA-Australia) and Nickolas Dlamini (Dimension Data).
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- Climbing the day’s only KOM.
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- Bowden was dropped over the KOM, leaving just two out front.
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- Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott) spent much of the day on the front of the peloton.
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- Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) was typically relaxed in the peloton.
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- Will Clarke went it alone with about 30km to go.
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- Michael Storer (Sunweb) had his appendix out a week ago. The fact he’s racing this week is impressive.
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- The sprint for the line in Lyndoch …
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- … with Andre Greipel getting the chocolates.
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- Some nice ink on Peter Sagan.
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- Stage winner Andre Greipel.
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- Will Clarke, most competitive rider.
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- Greipel, seen here with fellow German and former pro Jens Voigt, now leads the race overall.
