Dutch cyclist rides to solo win at at Tour Down Under
Dutch rider Daniek Hengeveld was rewarded for her bold solo attack, winning stage one of the Tour Down Under and taking the overall lead.
Daniek Hengeveld’s bold solo attack at the Tour Down Under has given the Dutch cyclist her first professional road race win.
The 22-year-old Ceratizit rider took out Friday’s opening stage of the Tour after catching the peloton off-guard.
Hengeveld attacked with about 50km left in the 101.9km stage from the coastal suburb of Brighton to Aldinga, south of Adelaide.
She built a lead of more than two minutes 30 seconds and turned the expected bunch sprint finish into a solo celebration, also taking the overall lead.
Hengeveld finished 36 seconds clear of the peloton, with New Zealander Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) winning the bunch sprint for second place.
Wollaston won a stage in last year’s Tour.
Hengeveld’s only other pro win was the prologue time trial – distinct from a road race – in the 2021 Belgrade GP Tour.
American star Chloe Dygert (Canyon Sram), the biggest name in the field, attacked inside the last 10km.
But she was soon reeled in as the peloton was unable to bridge the gap to the Dutch rider.
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Earlier, ARA Australian team rider Alyssa Polites broke clear in the first 20km and led over the queen of the mountain checkpoint, halfway through the stage.
Australian rising star Felicity Wilson-Haffenden needed medical attention when she was involved in a crash just before halfway.
Conditions were ideal on Friday, with the temperature in the high 20s, but the heat that is a defining feature of the Adelaide race will kick in over the weekend for the last two stages in the women’s race.
