Peter Sagan takes over Tour Down Under lead after his first stage win

It took Peter Sagan three editions of the Tour Down Under to win his first stage of the race, but on Friday the three-time world champion outfoxed the GC men to take the victory. Sagan took over the ochre leader’s jersey from Caleb Ewan and has a two-second lead before Saturday’s queen stage.

? Sagan Sensational ? @petosagan claims Bupa Stage 4 of the Santos TDU, taking over the Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey. #tdu #cycling #seesouthaustralia #petersagan pic.twitter.com/WvJdGg9AwL

— Santos Tour Down Under ??‍♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 19, 2018

The Course
The riders had 128.2-km to tackle with a climb within the final 17-km. The Norton Summit ascent is 5.6-km at 5%, with a kilometre of 8%. The final seven-kilometres were mostly downhill.

A day for the GC men at #TDU. After three stages decided in a bunch sprint, the riders will get a taste of the climbs, as they travel from Norwood to Uraidla (128.2km). pic.twitter.com/P6j1y8tkZR

— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) January 18, 2018

It was another scorching day in South Australia, even though the race started an hour early at 10:30am local time to try to beat the heat.

It's heating up out there already!! ☀️?#TDU pic.twitter.com/xafEd6wzCG

— Santos Tour Down Under ??‍♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 19, 2018

The Breakaway
It wouldn’t be a proper Tour Down Under stage unless riders from the UniSA-Australia team were in the breakaway. A duo from the squad immediately skipped away after the start in Norwood and rolled up a 7:25 lead only 18-km into the day. Mitchelton-Scott received assistance from Dimension Data in bringing back the escape from a 9:00 maximum gap.

Only one UniSA rider remained at the surrender with 15-km to go.

#TDU The bunch are strung out as they climb Norton Summit. Team Sunweb up towards the front of the pack with 12km to go. pic.twitter.com/ht03kIl1JH

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) January 19, 2018

Uphill Battle
When the road tilted up, BMC, Bahrain-Merida and UAE-Emirates mobbed the front of the peloton. With 2-km to the summit, only 25-riders remained at the sharp end of the race. BMC’s new addition Simon Gerrans whipped along the group.

Richie Porte went over the summit first and the group prepared for the final skirmish. To some riders’ surprise, they hadn’t shed Peter Sagan. A few riders tried to dash up the road but were brought to heel by Porte and his teammate Rohan Dennis.

Various attacks from Porte, Sagan and others whittled down the bunch. Porte led nine others under the red kite. Sagan then roared past Daryl Impey (South Africa/Mitchelton-Scott) and LL Sanchez (Spain/Astana) for the win.

2018 Tour Down Under Stage 4
1) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Bora-Hansgrohe) 3:21:07
2) Daryl Impey (South Africa/Mitchelton-Scott) s.t.
3) LL Sanchez (Spain/Astana) s.t.
71) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/FDJ) +10:43

2018 Tour Down Under GC
1) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Bora-Hansgrohe) 14:19:49
2) Daryl Impey (South Africa/Mitchelton-Scott) +0:02
3) Jay McCarthy (Australia/Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:09
95) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/FDJ) +21:18