Sam Bennett claimed his first ever win in the Tour Down Under when he placed first on stage one in Tanunda, Australia, today.
The Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider was the first of the sprinters to launch the sprint with around 250m to the line.
Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) and Erik Baska (Bora-Hansgrohe) placed second and third.
“I’d be lying if I’d say I didn’t feel the pressure to get that first win,” said Bennett.
“I’m very happy it came today, on the very first stage of the season’s first race, and I can’t thank my incredible teammates enough, because the result is down to their amazing effort.”
He added that the team was very confident in him and the way they rode was amazing and gave him great confidence.
“There’s a lot of experience in this squad, and they showed it today, together with that unique Wolfpack spirit, which you can feel it immediately.
“Everybody did a fantastic job and played a superb role, keeping me in position and making sure I was where I had to be in order to fight for the victory.”
View more results below.
Sam Bennett won stage one of the Tour Down Under in Tanunda, Australia, today. Photo: Tim De Waele/Getty Images
Stage one (150km)
| 1 | Sam Bennett | IRL | Deceuninck-Quick-Step | 3:28:54 |
| 2 | Jasper Philipsen | BEL | UAE Team Emirates | |
| 3 | Erik Baska | SVK | Bora-Hansgrohe | |
| 4 | Elia Viviani | ITA | Cofidis Solutions Credits | |
| 5 | André Greipel | GER | Israel Start-Up Nation | |
| 6 | Kristoffer Halvorsen | NOR | EF Pro Cycling | |
| 7 | Caleb Ewan | AUS | Lotto Soudal | |
| 8 | Marc Sarreau | FRA | Groupama-FDJ | |
| 9 | Sam Welsford | AUS | UniSA-Australia | |
| 10 | Alberto Dainese | ITA | Team Sunweb |
*Selected
| 13 | Daryl Impey | RSA | Mitchelton-Scott |
| 18 | Ryan Gibbons | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling |
| 62 | Stefan de Bod | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling |
General classification
| 1 | Sam Bennett | IRL | Deceuninck-Quick-Step | 3:28:44 |
| 2 | Jasper Philipsen | BEL | UAE Team Emirates | +0:00:04 |
| 3 | Erik Baska | SVK | Bora-Hansgrohe | +0:00:06 |
| 4 | Daryl Impey | RSA | Mitchelton-Scott | +0:00:07 |
| 5 | Jarrad Drizners | AUS | UniSA-Australia | |
| 6 | Chris Lawless | GBR | Team Ineos | +0:00:08 |
| 7 | Dylan Sunderland | AUS | NTT Pro Cycling | |
| 8 | Nathan Haas | AUS | Cofidis Solutions Credits | +0:00:09 |
| 9 | Michael Storer | AUS | Team Sunweb | |
| 10 | Elia Viviani | ITA | Cofidis Solutions Credits | +0:00:10 |
*Selected
| 22 | Ryan Gibbons | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling |
| 63 | Stefan de Bod | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling |
