Vine lays down marker as Watson wins blistering TDU prologue

[ad_1] British rider Sam Watson of Ineos Grenadiers has blitzed the Tour Down Below prologue to say the ochre jersey by simply 0.59 seconds from compatriot Ethan Vernon (NSN Biking Crew).

Australian favorite Jay Vine (UAE Crew Emirates XRG) delivered a press release efficiency on the snappy 3.6-kilometre course although, ending in fourth place and taking a handful of seconds out of his basic classification rivals.

A small error heading into Victoria Park, the place he clipped the bottom of a barrier might have spelled catastrophe, though he didn't appear too affected as he flew to the road.

New Zealander Laurence Pithie (Crimson Bull-bora-hansgrohe) pipped Vine to 3rd place, with the Australian time trial champion simply 4.02 seconds off the tempo.

"It is nice to start out the season with a win," Watson stated, having spent the most effective a part of two hours within the chief's sizzling seat.

Sam Watson offers Ineos Grenadiers its first win of the 2026 World Tour season. ( Getty Photographs: Con Chronis )

"There was numerous guys [that made me nervous].

"That was a giant sigh of aid on the finish. I used to be so comfortable to start out with a win.

"It is nice for myself and the group to start out off the season like this."

Vine could have anticipated to say victory recent of reclaiming the nationwide time trial championship in Perth two weeks in the past, however he needs to be a lot glad together with his efficiency.

Successful the Tour Down Below usually comes all the way down to a matter of seconds — the final three males's editions have been received by 9 seconds (twice) and, when Vine himself received the race, by 11 seconds — so it was essential for the general favourites to not lose time on their rivals forward of what some are calling the toughest version within the race's 26-year historical past.

As such, it was day for final 12 months's third place finisher Finn Fisher-Black (Crimson Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), who misplaced simply 3 seconds to Vine.

New Zealand's Finn Fisher-Black took seven seconds out of Ben O'Connor. ( Getty Photographs: Con Chronis )

Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) was an extra second behind Fisher-Black, with final 12 months's winner Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Crew Emirates XRT) one other 2 seconds again.

The large loser was Ben O'Connor, who misplaced 10 seconds to Vine, ending again in 52nd place.

As is at all times the case with a time trial prologue — particularly one as brief as 3.6km — the race was a dash from the off.

Beginning with a straight, 1km drag down Wakefield Road, riders then turned onto the Victoria Park criterium circuit for a extra technical, blustery finale.

No time-trial bikes have been used — a logistical train greater than anything, so groups wouldn't need to carry them from Europe — however that did little to scale back the speeds.

The one different earlier time the Tour Down Below opened with a brief prologue in 2023, Vine went on to win the general classification regardless of ending ninth, 14 seconds behind stage winner Alberto Bettoil.

Then the prologue was marred by moist circumstances that bought progressively worse because the night went on, with early starter Bettiol claiming victory by 8 seconds.

And though it was one other early starter who claimed victory this time round, circumstances performed a job all through, a fierce southerly wind with occasional gusts of 50km/h underneath good blue skies inflicting the riders some points.

British nationwide highway race champion Watson set the early benchmark time of 4:16.90 — a mean velocity of fifty.4km/h — and was by no means bettered.

Samuel Watson set the quickest time of the early starters. ( Getty Photographs: Con Chronis )

The eleventh of 140 starters out of the gate, Watson had a protracted stint within the chief's chair as he watched the remainder of the sector fail to beat his time — though he admitted he had not even sat down within the chief's chair when Vernon got here inside a whisker of bettering him.

"Simply as I climbed off the bike Ethan Vernon got here throughout the road and he was half a second behind," Watson stated.

"I knew he can be a contender … possibly I would not even make it to the new seat."

Canadian Michael Leonard (EF Training-Easypost) will journey tomorrow's stage within the white younger riders jersey as the most effective rider underneath 23.

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Watson was happy to say victory, however had no ambition of retaining the jersey tomorrow, saying Ineos Grenadiers have been all in for brand spanking new teammate, Australian Sam Welsford for the primary stage correct.

"We go 100 per cent for him," new ochre jersey wearer Watson stated.

"He is received six occasions within the final two years now so yeah, all for him.

"[I'll be] Final or second-last lead out man ... no matter Sam prefers, however I will be up there in direction of the top."

Wednesday's stage sees riders sort out the Barossa Valley, with an undulating 120.6km journey via wine nation beginning and ending within the stunning city of Tanunda.

The race could function three ascents of the two.1km class three Menglers Hill, however will nonetheless seemingly be a stage for the sprinters, with winner of the Tanunda stage final 12 months Welsford among the many favourites.