22 Jan 2020

Team remain in touch despite late drama

Related riders

Rohan Dennis

Tour Down Under – Stage two: Woodside – Stirling, 135.8km

Team INEOS were able to cross the line without time loss on an eventful second day at the Tour Down Under.

A large crash just ahead of the final kilometre saw more than half the peloton held up, allowing only a select group to contest the stage victory in Stirling.

Chris Lawless and Dylan van Baarle were caught up in the crash but were both able to remount and finish, with the three-kilometre rule ensuring no time was lost on the day.

There was also late drama to overcome for Rohan Dennis, who was forced to stop with a puncture with 15km to go. A valiant effort from Luke Rowe helped pace the 2015 race winner back to the bunch ahead of the final climb.

Despite a hard tempo the sprinters clung on and it was Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) who picked up the victory, while also moving into a narrow race lead.

The race passed through areas affected by the recent fires (photo: Getty Sport)

Reaction

- Rohan Dennis

"We had to use a fair bit of energy to come back. It was one of those points when it’s fast and it’s harder to take time on the peloton. It was all about biding our time and making the right moves when it was a bit slower on the kickers. Luckily we got on just before the climb and my legs were still good. I stayed safe thankfully. A couple of guys got caught up in the crash and we’ll see how tomorrow goes.

"I still think Richie (Porte) is the guy to beat tomorrow. The last time we went up (to Paracombe) he won by around 20secs or so and that was going the fast way. It’s a little bit more grippy on this side and it really is going to suit the power to weight – the little guys. It’s going to be hard to beat him but the race isn’t over at the end of tomorrow, there’s plenty of days to get back up."

- Chris Lawless

"It’s just one of those things – a touch a wheels and a few people went down. There were a lot of people really trying going up to the finish with around a kilometre to go. Everyone is hurting at that point and quite a few people have got their heads down.

"I'm riding back to the hotel now so I should be fine to continue."

Overall standings after stage 2:

1. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) 6:56:15
2. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) s.t.
3. Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) +1"
4. Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) +4"
5. Nathan Haas (Cofidis) +5"
8. Chris Lawless (Team INEOS) +8"
65. Rohan Dennis (Team INEOS) +10"