2026-01-23T02:45:03.467Z<\/p>\n
The three riders doing the pacemaking at the front of the peloton are still Lucas Hamilton for Ineos, Tim Rex for Visma and Antoine L’Hote for Decathlon.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:43:22.321Z<\/p>\n
Sprint #1 result:<\/p>\n
1- Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9),<\/p>\n
2- Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ United)<\/p>\n
3- Martin Urianstad (Uno-X Mobility)<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:42:10.096Z<\/p>\n
Hot day out there. Veistroffer goes to his team to get an ice sock, and he shares more socks with his breakaway companions.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:41:14.906Z<\/p>\n
Veistroffer moves across the road and to the front to take the points uncontested.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:39:42.501Z<\/p>\n
Urianstad is leading the break with 1km to the sprint.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:37:54.360Z<\/p>\n
Correction, gap is holding around the 1-minute mark.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:37:33.665Z<\/p>\n
With a gap under 1 minute, the break sees 2.5 to the first intermediate sprint in Meadows.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:34:51.861Z<\/p>\n
Kangaroos are keeping cool in the shade under the trees.<\/p>\n
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![\"NAIRNE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/X7AkCzU5aGRXuF5ypMC8Y5.jpg\")
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:29:51.013Z<\/p>\n
The peloton is now single-filed, the pressure has increased and the gap has dropped to 1:22 with 91km to go,<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:28:05.151Z<\/p>\n
Veistroffer has some trouble with the pace when the road went up for the KOM, but now he is back at the front of the break, thundering along but the peloton is keeping them very close.<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:25:13.862Z<\/p>\n
Lucas Hamilton setting the pace at the front of the pack<\/p>\n
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![\"NAIRNE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/KAEF7zhah9AcHpLXi6iMmY.jpg\")
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2026-01-23T02:17:13.040Z Break of three: Marian Urianstad (Uno-X Mobility), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9), Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ United) have 2:04 on the field.<\/p>\n The peloton under the control of Visma, Ineos and Decathlon, is keeping a tight leash on the escapees.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:13:16.472Z<\/p>\n Visma’s Tim Rex is back at the front of the peloton, just like he did on stage 1,<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:09:33.266Z<\/p>\n Ineos’ Lucas Hamilton leads the peloton across the top of Wickham Hill.<\/p>\n He wanted to make that Welsford had no issues on the cat 1 ascent.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:08:36.133Z<\/p>\n The peloton slows down slightly on the climb to look after their sprinters; the gap goes up slightly to 2:09.<\/p>\n It’s all about keeping the break close, while not stressing the sprinters on the climb.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:06:59.080Z<\/p>\n Urianstad takes the 10 points, and simply rolls across the line. Veistroffer is second and Paleni third.<\/p>\n The earlier discussion was fruitful as to how to divvy the spoils.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:05:32.479Z<\/p>\n Urianstad goes to the front with 500metres to the top. Veistroffer on his wheel, and then Paleni.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:01:43.216Z<\/p>\n Veistroffer is setting the pace on the climb, followed by Paleni and then Urianstad.<\/p>\n Max of 10 points on offer for the cat 1.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T02:00:30.952Z<\/p>\n Ineos rotates to the front of the peloton, as the break sees 2km to the first KOM of the day.<\/p>\n The cat 1 Wickham Hill climb is three kilometres long and averages 7%, but kicks up to 11% in places and rises 207 metres<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:58:50.654Z<\/p>\n Not the first breakaway, of course, for Paleni, who made it into the break on stage 1 that was reeled in. But the 23-year-old Frenchman did take 4th on stage 5 at the 2024 Giro d\u2019Italia where the break made it to the finish line.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:53:28.867Z<\/p>\n Under the impetus of Decathlon’s Antoine L’Hote, the gap to the break is now 1:52 as we race towards the first KOM of the day, the cat 1. Wickham Hill.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:50:31.244Z<\/p>\n Veistroffer did some heat training before heading to Australia.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old French rider is also known for his bikepacking adventures. In 2025, he rode from Lampang to Hat Siao over 7 days in Thailand.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:43:15.617Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Breakaway of KOM leader Urianstad, Veistroffer and Paleni have 2:27 on the peloton with 122km to go.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:36:49.188Z<\/p>\n Today is the second and final stage that can come down to a sprint, so the sprinters’ teams of Ineos, for Welsford, Visma for Brennan and Decathlon for stage 1 winner Tobias Lund Andresen – came to the front early to keep the break on a tight leash.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:31:03.159Z<\/p>\n Looking at the break, Paleni is the highest placed on GC, at 2:28 down. Veistroffer is 4:24 back and Urianstad is 11:14 back.<\/p>\n No real threat on GC.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:29:34.426Z<\/p>\n Still lots of discussion between the three riders in the break. The three riders now have 2:02 on the peloton with one rider each of the sprinters team: Ineos, Visma and Decathlon are setting the pace.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:26:52.266Z<\/p>\n One of the favourites to win today\u2019s stage is Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers), and the team scouted the new Nairne finish as part of their race strategy.<\/p>\n “It’s a new course so when it’s a new course, no one knows how it’s going to be won. Everyone’s got a theory how to win it. But yeah, I mean, we’ve done it twice. I’ve done it once with Sam by himself, and I’ve done it once with the whole group, so we’ve got a pretty good idea of what we want to do today,\u201d Ineos Grenadiers sports director Daryl Impey told Cyclingnews before the stage start.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it’s challenging, the hill is challenging, but I think the depth of the field here is so good I can’t see anyone sneaking away. I’m sure there will be teams trying to put guys like Sam [Welsford] on the limit but I think hopefully we should have all bases covered. If it’s not for Sam Welsford, then we’ve got Sam Watson. So we’re pretty happy with both options.”<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:24:55.072Z<\/p>\n Paleni and Urianstad discussed how the three riders in the break can work together to stay away from the peloton. They talked about how to divvy the sprint and KOM points available today.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:19:45.752Z<\/p>\n Veistroffer dropped his chain, and with some help from a breakaway rider, he fixes it and keeps on going.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:15:57.518Z<\/p>\n Urianstad gets across to Enzo Paleni and Baptiste Veistroffer. Trio has 22 seconds with less after 1 kilometre of racing.<\/p>\n No reaction from the field.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:13:57.849Z<\/p>\n Urianstad jumps away on this opening kick to make it up to the riders up the road.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:13:22.981Z<\/p>\n And an immediate attack from Groupama and a Lotto rider gets on his wheel.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:12:54.706Z<\/p>\n Flag drop by race director Stuart O\u2019Grady, and we are racing!<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:12:31.223Z<\/p>\n Riders including Luke Plapp, have started to swarm the race lead car,<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:11:04.338Z<\/p>\n And of course, KOM leader Martin Urianstad (Uno-X Mobility) is also close to the car. After all, he’s been in the break in stage 1 and stage 2. Will he go again today?<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:10:10.310Z<\/p>\n Three VIsma-Lease a Bike riders sitting behind the race car as they meander their way towards kilometre 0. The team will be all in for their sprinter Matthew Brennan today.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T01:06:08.215Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Let\u2019s hear what race leader Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) told Seven this morning at the start in Henley Breach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s really nice to wear this jersey after not having it for three years. And it’s really nice to gotta pin the numbers on today.\u201d<\/p>\n About managing the heat and stage 3: \u201cObviously, nutrition is really important, but it’s also we’re here to take the race in the final day. So got to keep on top of any dangerous breakaways that go ahead. And hopefully, it’s a relatively easy day with the sprinters wanting to have a sprint at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n About winning in front of his wife and son: \u201cI\u2019ve been lucky to win in front of them before, but to do it in Australia as well. And my son’s obviously growing and learning more and more and recognising me more and more from the TV as well, so it’s pretty special. And I just love having him here and coming to the bus before the start and into the hotel room before the race even. It’s really nice.\u201d<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T00:50:15.352Z<\/p>\n As the field is rolling through the neutral section, Cyclingnews took a closer look at stage 3:<\/p>\n \u201cThe third stage from Henley Beach to Nairne is no holiday beach trip. The Wickham Hill climb is three kilometres long and averages 7%, but kicks up to 11% in places and rises 207 metres. It comes only 32.2km into the stage, so perhaps not one for the GC contenders to attack on. The ascent at Mount Barker after 115 kilometres is short but tough, and possibly not enough to dislodge the sprinters if they’re still around.\u201d<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T00:48:05.471Z<\/p>\n Very relaxed mood – so far – in the peloton during the long neutral section.<\/p>\n 2026-01-23T00:43:34.908Z<\/p>\n The field is down to 137 riders. Jonas Rutsch (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9) was involved in a crash yesterday, and will not be starting today.<\/p>\n Best wishes for a prompt recovery.<\/p>\n
\n100km to go<\/p>\n![\"NAIRNE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PEiHmRE5Yn4i6xvbT6SgfX.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"HENLEY](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/XjWtkkRTTiq4Tj8vBFNWsX.jpg\")
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