In a difficult ascending sprint, Vernon won after a long effort ahead of the Dane Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM) and the New Zealander Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). The 25-year-old Vernon ensured the first victory ever for the brand new NSN. The Swiss team is the successor to the controversial Israel-Premier Tech.
Top favorite Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) again played no role. Just like in previous sprint stages, he had problems with his placement. Brennan, who won twelve professional victories last year, only finished sixteenth on Saturday.
Home rider Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG) is still in the lead at the top of the rankings, but he saw two of his teammates drop out on Saturday: Narvaez, but also the Norwegian rider Vegard Stake Laengen.
The Emirates team reported this on Saturday after a medical examination. “Narvaez has suffered multiple stable compression fractures to his thoracic vertebrae, which do not require surgery at this stage. He is currently stable and remains in hospital for observation,” said Adrian Rotunno, head of the team’s medical staff.
Immediately one and two Down Under, has UAE Team Emirates set off again for a record year? “And the real boss has yet to come”
The fourth stage, with arrival in Willunga, was supposed to be the queen stage of this Tour Down Under, but was severely shortened due to temperatures above 40 degrees and extreme fire hazard. The uphill finish on top of Willunga Hill was canceled, and the ride was barely 130 kilometers long.
The Tour Down Under ends tomorrow/Sunday with a hilly stage of 169 kilometers in Stirling. Vine defends a lead of just over a minute over first pursuers Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost).
