Tour Down Under 2019 Stage 4: Impey wins ahead of Bevin, who retains GC lead

The 4th stage in the Tour Down Under comes down to the punchy Corkscrew climb and an ensuing descent to the finish line. Porte, Poels, Woods and Bennett launch an attack on the climb, but leader Bevin brings them back in the downhill. Title defender Impey wins the sprint of the reduced group ahead of Bevin, who thus retains the ochre jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2019 Tour Down Under

1. Daryl Impey (rsa)
2. Patrick Bevin (nzl) s.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
4. Ruben Guerreiro (por) s.t.
5. Rubén Fernández (spa) s.t.
6. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
7. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
8. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
9. Chris Hamilton (aus) s.t.
10. Dylan van Baarle (nld) s.t.

GC Tour Down Under
1. Patrick Bevin (nzl)
2. Daryl Impey (rsa) + 0.07
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.11
4. Chris Hamilton (aus) + 0.21
5. Ryan Gibbons (rsa) s.t.
6. Jan Polanc (slo) s.t.
7. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
8. Ruben Guerriro (por) s.t.
9. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
10. Michael Woods (can) s.t.

11. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.
17. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
18. Rohan Dennis (aus) s.t.

Race report
Breakaway specialist Thomas De Gendt leads the early attack along with Hermann Pernsteiner, Benoit Cosnefroy, Miles Scotson, Nicholas White and Jasha Sütterlin. The six put more than 5 minutes into the peloton.

But the race really comes down to the final 10 kilometres. On Corkscrew Road – with ramps up to 15% – Richie Porte, Michael Woods, George Bennett and Wout Poels make a move. The four are all potential GC-winners, so leader Patrick Bevin has no choice. He rails the 5.7 kilometres descent to the finish in Campbelltown. The trailing group is down to some fifteen riders and they catch the attackers with 2 kilometres remaining.

Luis León Sánchez charges 800 metres before the line, but once again it is Bevin who responds. The New Zealander pushes on, but he can’t hold on. Daryl Impey appears on his left side to win the stage and move up to second place overall.

Bevin is still leading, now 7 seconds ahead of Impey with LL Sánchez 11 seconds behind. Pre-race favourites Porte, Woods and Poels are 21 seconds in arrears, which is a big gap to close in the final stage to Willunga Hill.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage Tour Down Under 2019.