Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 – Stage 4 [FULL STAGE]

January 24, 2021

Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 – Stage 4 – Victoria Park Criterium

The men’s and women’s Tour Down Under may be cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the racing is still continuing in South Australia with a four-day National Road Series (NRS) event. The Santos Festival of Cycling NRS race will run from Thursday, January 21 to Sunday, January 24 with domestic riders getting the opportunity to take on a number of WorldTour and Women’s WorldTour racers returning home for the Australian summer. Both the women’s and men’s event will travel through the towns and countryside surrounding Adelaide, tackling the popular climb of Willunga Hill on stage 3 and finishing with a criterium on the outskirts of the city.

Sam Welsford (Team Garmin Australia) showed just why he’s wearing the Australian criterium champion’s jersey, taking victory on stage 4 at the Santos Festival of Cycling while Luke Durbridge (Team BikeExchange) safely crossed the line to take the overall jersey that he laid claim to on the very first day of racing in South Australia.

The criterium win at the 1.1 kilometre long Victoria Park circuit in Adelaide was the third stage victory for Team Garmin Australia at the four-day National Road Series race.

“Richie [Porte] went in front and pulled some big turns to pull the break back and then it was all up to me and Kell [Kelland O’Brien] and [Luke] Plapp to bring back that last little bit and hopefully I was in a good position for the wheel. The last straight was a big drag race and it was really technical and we did that corner at probably 65k an hour. We had one shot at it and that was it,” said Welsford straight after the stage.

Welsford came in ahead of Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange) who just couldn’t stick with the charge of the national champion as he flew through the final corner and then powered through the last straight to take a clear victory. Jensen Plowright (Team Bridgelane) slipped through for third in a tight battle for the final podium spot.

”It was a really good job by the boys keeping me fresh all day and I was disappointed I couldn’t finish it off,” said Groves.

One of those teammates that kept Groves fresh was Durbridge. The blue jersey of the overall leader was working hard at the front on the final laps before riding over the finishing line to confirm the overall victory that he looked sure to take after the very first stage of The Santos Festival of Cycling , which was run as a replacement to the normal WorldTour event.

Team BikeExchange was always marked as a squad to beat as it was the only WorldTour team racing alongside the domestic teams and a sprinkling of WorldTour professionals who had returned home for the Australian summer. The national team, led by Porte, Team Garmin Australia not surprisingly turned out to be the biggest threat and while Team BikeExchange ultimately lost the stage tally battle one-to-three their dominance on the overall couldn’t have been more clear.

In the end Durbridge took the GC with a margin of two minutes to Luke Plapp (Team Garmin Australia) and 2:31 to Jumbo Visma climber Chris Harper who was racing for Cervelo-Tonsley Village at the event.

“It has been a fantastic week for us,” said Durbridge. “I think the boys did a really good job today. Everybody dug in and gave Kaden the best opportunity and he came over second so we have got to be happy with that and we have got to be happy with the week. This has really set us up for the summer.”

How it unfolded

A day with temperatures in the 40’s meant the heat was still on even though the men started racing well into the evening. However, that didn’t mean there was any taking it easy with the breaks coming thick and fast as riders jostled for not only the stage win but the points and time bonuses on offer during the intermediate sprints.

Cyrus Monk (Cycle House Racing) was one of the most attentive at the front as he started the stage on equal points with Durbridge in the sprint competition and clearly wanted to leapfrog the overall leader and also make sure no one else came up from behind.

It was a group of eight clear out the front that approached the first intermediate sprint point on lap 10 and while Monk tried to jump out of the pack and take the points Raphael Freiensten (InForm TM Insight Make) was far too quick. Freiensten’s efforts, and the three bonus seconds that came with them, bumped him up to fourth place overall while Monk’s second was enough for him to secure the sprint competition.

After that the break ebbed and flowed and ultimately by the time the next intermediate sprint approached at 20 laps there were four out the front, with two forging ahead to contest the sprint. Matt Ross (Cycle House Racing) came out on top, beating Brendon Davids (Olivers Real Food Racing).

The group of four came back together but as the gap to the peloton dropped to only ten seconds with 5 laps to go it wasn’t long until their time was over. All eyes were now on that final line and Porte and Durbridge were two of the riders that could be seen working hard on the front to try and set up the final sprint for their competing teammates.

Though when the bell for the final lap rang it was time for the sprint trains to take over. They delivered Groves and Welsford to the front to squeeze through that final corner at a blistering pace before Welsford crossed in first and quickly went to find his teammates to celebrate taking the final victory of the tour.

Results :
1 Sam Welsford (Team Garmin Australia) 0:59:41
2 Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange)
3 Jensen Plowright (Team Bridgelane)
4 Elliot Schultz (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
5 Kelland O’Brien (Team Garmin Australia)
6 Matthew Rice (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
7 Blake Quick (InForm TM Insight Make)
8 Craig Wiggins (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
9 Nicholas White (Team Bridgelane)
10 Chris Harper (CERVELO-Tonsley Village) 0:00:03
11 Ben Metcalfe (Team Bridgelane)
12 Pat Drapac (Cycle House Racing)
13 Myles Stewart (Nero Continental)
14 Raphael Freiensten (InForm TM Insight Make)
15 Sam Volkers (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
16 Brendon Johnston (CCS Cycling)
17 Oliver Anderson (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
18 Thomas Bolton (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
19 Tim Roe (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
20 David Randall (Butterfields Racing)
21 Brendon Davids (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
22 Brad Soden (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
23 Kaine Cannan (Velofit Australia)
24 Chris Luxton (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
25 Bryce Lanigan (Velofit Australia)
26 Sam Crome (St George Continental Cycling Team)
27 Carter Turnbull (InForm TM Insight Make)
28 Dylan McKenna (Nero Continental) 0:00:11
29 Zack Barnhill (St George Continental Cycling Team)
30 Justin Gassner (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
31 Alex Holden (GIANT Racing Team) 0:00:14
32 Angus Lyons (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
33 Riley Fleming (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
34 Lionel Mawditt (St George Continental Cycling Team)
35 Jason Thomason (Butterfields Racing)
36 Zachary Marriage (Butterfields Racing)
37 Jacob Langham (Velofit Australia)
38 Richie Porte (Team Garmin Australia)
39 Will Maloney-Morton (Cycle House Racing)
40 Connor Reardon (St George Continental Cycling Team)
41 Godfrey Slattery (GIANT Racing Team)
42 Daniel Siwek (Butterfields Racing)
43 Steele van Hoff (InForm TM Insight Make)
44 Ryan Cavanagh (St George Continental Cycling Team)
45 Campbell Jones (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
46 Joshua Wilson (Velofit Australia)
47 Rudy Porter (InForm TM Insight Make)
48 Luke Durbridge (Team BikeExchange)
49 Will Golding (Butterfields Racing)
50 Luke Plapp (Team Garmin Australia)
51 Tristen Saunders (Butterfields Racing) 0:00:20
52 Alex Edmondson (Team BikeExchange) 0:00:23
53 Cameron Meyer (Team BikeExchange) 0:00:26
54 Conor Leahy (WorldTour Composite Team)
55 Will Hodges (GIANT Racing Team)
56 Matt Ross (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:28
57 Mattew Harvey (Velofit Australia)
58 Zac Johnson (InForm TM Insight Make)
59 Cooper Sayers (Nero Continental)
60 Oli Stenning (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
61 Marcus Culey (WorldTour Composite Team) 0:00:30
62 Drew Morey (Team Bridgelane)
63 Seb Berwick (WorldTour Composite Team)
64 Rylan Dowdell (Butterfields Racing)
65 Kane Richards (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:34
66 Carter Bettles (St George Continental Cycling Team)
67 Cyrus Monk (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:37
68 Reece Tucknott (CCS Cycling)
69 Terance Hore (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:50
70 Mark O’Brien (InForm TM Insight Make) 0:01:03
71 Josh Duffy (WorldTour Composite Team)
72 Adam Blazevic (GIANT Racing Team) 0:01:06
73 Bill Simpson (GIANT Racing Team) 0:01:09
74 Zack Gilmore (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast) 0:01:20
75 Lucas Hamilton (Team BikeExchange) 0:01:34
76 Jordan Kerby (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team) 0:01:40
77 Damien Howson (Team BikeExchange) 0:02:00
78 Jimmy Whelan (Team Garmin Australia) 0:03:47
79 Alex Bogna (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
80 Cam Roberts (CCS Cycling) 0:03:56
DNS Cameron Ivory (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)

Final General Classification :
1 Sam Welsford (Team Garmin Australia) 0:59:41
2 Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange)
3 Jensen Plowright (Team Bridgelane)
4 Elliot Schultz (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
5 Kelland O’Brien (Team Garmin Australia)
6 Matthew Rice (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
7 Blake Quick (InForm TM Insight Make)
8 Craig Wiggins (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
9 Nicholas White (Team Bridgelane)
10 Chris Harper (CERVELO-Tonsley Village) 0:00:03
11 Ben Metcalfe (Team Bridgelane)
12 Pat Drapac (Cycle House Racing)
13 Myles Stewart (Nero Continental)
14 Raphael Freiensten (InForm TM Insight Make)
15 Sam Volkers (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
16 Brendon Johnston (CCS Cycling)
17 Oliver Anderson (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
18 Thomas Bolton (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
19 Tim Roe (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
20 David Randall (Butterfields Racing)
21 Brendon Davids (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
22 Brad Soden (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team)
23 Kaine Cannan (Velofit Australia)
24 Chris Luxton (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
25 Bryce Lanigan (Velofit Australia)
26 Sam Crome (St George Continental Cycling Team)
27 Carter Turnbull (InForm TM Insight Make)
28 Dylan McKenna (Nero Continental) 0:00:11
29 Zack Barnhill (St George Continental Cycling Team)
30 Justin Gassner (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)
31 Alex Holden (GIANT Racing Team) 0:00:14
32 Angus Lyons (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
33 Riley Fleming (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
34 Lionel Mawditt (St George Continental Cycling Team)
35 Jason Thomason (Butterfields Racing)
36 Zachary Marriage (Butterfields Racing)
37 Jacob Langham (Velofit Australia)
38 Richie Porte (Team Garmin Australia)
39 Will Maloney-Morton (Cycle House Racing)
40 Connor Reardon (St George Continental Cycling Team)
41 Godfrey Slattery (GIANT Racing Team)
42 Daniel Siwek (Butterfields Racing)
43 Steele van Hoff (InForm TM Insight Make)
44 Ryan Cavanagh (St George Continental Cycling Team)
45 Campbell Jones (OLIVERS Real Food Racing)
46 Joshua Wilson (Velofit Australia)
47 Rudy Porter (InForm TM Insight Make)
48 Luke Durbridge (Team BikeExchange)
49 Will Golding (Butterfields Racing)
50 Luke Plapp (Team Garmin Australia)
51 Tristen Saunders (Butterfields Racing) 0:00:20
52 Alex Edmondson (Team BikeExchange) 0:00:23
53 Cameron Meyer (Team BikeExchange) 0:00:26
54 Conor Leahy (WorldTour Composite Team)
55 Will Hodges (GIANT Racing Team)
56 Matt Ross (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:28
57 Mattew Harvey (Velofit Australia)
58 Zac Johnson (InForm TM Insight Make)
59 Cooper Sayers (Nero Continental)
60 Oli Stenning (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
61 Marcus Culey (WorldTour Composite Team) 0:00:30
62 Drew Morey (Team Bridgelane)
63 Seb Berwick (WorldTour Composite Team)
64 Rylan Dowdell (Butterfields Racing)
65 Kane Richards (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:34
66 Carter Bettles (St George Continental Cycling Team)
67 Cyrus Monk (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:37
68 Reece Tucknott (CCS Cycling)
69 Terance Hore (Cycle House Racing) 0:00:50
70 Mark O’Brien (InForm TM Insight Make) 0:01:03
71 Josh Duffy (WorldTour Composite Team)
72 Adam Blazevic (GIANT Racing Team) 0:01:06
73 Bill Simpson (GIANT Racing Team) 0:01:09
74 Zack Gilmore (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast) 0:01:20
75 Lucas Hamilton (Team BikeExchange) 0:01:34
76 Jordan Kerby (MEIYO CCN Pro Cycling Team) 0:01:40
77 Damien Howson (Team BikeExchange) 0:02:00
78 Jimmy Whelan (Team Garmin Australia) 0:03:47
79 Alex Bogna (ARA Pro-Racing Sunshine Coast)
80 Cam Roberts (CCS Cycling) 0:03:56
DNS Cameron Ivory (CERVELO-Tonsley Village)