IPT’s Bennett and Robust on the entrance of nonetheless a reasonably large group.

IPT nonetheless on the entrance, working laborious for his or her sprinter Robust with 4.4km to go, as they zoom all the way down to the end line.

SprintersTeutenberg and Andresen additionally made the cut up. A lot of quick males made it over the climb with the entrance group

Bystrøm and Harper are again into the group with 7km to go. IPT on the entrance once more.

Soler main the chase, trying to carry all of it again for his teammate Narvaez.

Torres assaults once more with 8km to go, and Romo covers as Bystrøm and Harper have a small hole.

The FDJ rider overlaying lots of the assaults is Bystrøm.  After a slight hesitation, Konrad tries to get throughout however he’s marked by Romo.

Assault by Harper, marked by FDJ.

Bahrain goes again to the entrance as Jayco strikes up with 9km to go. Romo appears to remoted and using near the entrance.

And the hole is neutralized as soon as once more, led by Onley. Romo simply behind him.

10km to go

Half the peloton is dipped, and one other assault by FDJ, marked by Soler and Sheffield.

The pair have round 50 metre hole within the peloton however they’re introduced again in with Askey setting a quick tempo, shadowed by Onley.

UAE’s Torres makes a dig away with 11.5km to go, and AG2R Vendrame connects with Torres.

Bauhaus and Stannard additionally made the cut up, and Bahrain organizing for his or her sprinter.

UAE and IPT nonetheless setting the tempo because the highway begins to go up  for an uncategorised ascent.

And Schmid is reeled in with 13km to go along with his erstwhile breakmate Van der Hoorn main the chase.

Group comes collectively within the peloton, with UAE, IPT and Lidl working collectively to carry again the Swiss champion with 14km to go.

Schmid is holding 18 seconds with 15km to go. 

Finest younger rider Philipsen additionally made the entrance cut up. 

Varied groups coming to the entrance, briefly so as to add their contribution to the chase with Schmid nonetheless off the entrance with 16km to go.

Williams is shifting up, going to the entrance behind Chris Harper, second wheel within the group led by Woods. 

Romo, Narvaez, Solely, Vine, Williams, Brennan are nonetheless within the group.

Peloton has misplaced about half the riders on the climb. 

Welsford is in a dropped group inside 20km to go.

Robust is in third wheel behind a Jayco rider and his teammate Woods.

Canadian champion Woods going to the entrance and upping the tempo, as Schmid nonetheless has 21 seconds.

Schmid goes excessive with a spot of 30 seconds and retains on going. UAE setting the tempo and doing the harm.

Peloton swinging on the steeper slopes because the break collapses. Schmid persevering with on solo with 22km to go, 

1km to go to the highest of cat 1. The sting on 1.9km Nettle Hill will come from a mean incline of 8.1 per cent, topping out at 14% close to the highest.

And Tesfazion is again into the sector with 23km to go. Hole at 1:15.

Tesfazion retains trying again, and getting on the radio. 

Movistar’s Tesfazion is pulling away from the peloton, appears over his shoulder and retains going.

Romo is in the course of the sector, with the sector massed collectively, battling for place as they know that they may catch the break. Hole at 58 seconds with 28km to go.

Epis nonetheless sitting behind the break, because the hole goes below the minute mark. Schmid is doing loads of work on the entrance. 

32km to go

The hole is tumbling down for the 4 riders within the break, now at 1:14

Movistar nonetheless on the entrance, attempting to maintain Romo in good place for the climb, whereas different groups – EF, IPT, Visma, Jayco – are attempting to take management. 

IPT and Movistar preventing for management on the entrance with EF Schooling additionally exhibiting their colours with 35km to go.

Change on the entrance of the peloton with PostNL taking the entrance. An actual battle for place, nerves are excessive for the upcoming climb.

Schelling raised his hand in search of his group automobile. 

Epis skipped a flip within the break who’re flying down a descent at 105kmph. 

Romo is sitting third wheel with extra teammates behind him and the hole is 2:11 with 42km to go. Arkea rider got here to the entrance to ask Movistar to experience in the course of the highway, and away from the gutter. 

IPT are lined up behind Movistar, working for his or her sprinter Corbin Robust, Nobody needs to commit assets to the chase fairly but. Are they saving themselves to Willunga Hill tomorrow?

The drag race between the break and the peloton is on. Hole is 2:25 with 45.7km to go. No groups are actually serving to Movistar on the entrance, but.

Peloton is single-filed on the again, with Jayco on the rear.

Break of 4 have 2:30 with 50km to go, and inside 30km to the Nettle Hill climb.

Alex Edmondson is again on the medical automobile, pointing to his leg with 50.5km to go.

Geraint Thomas welcomes Caleb Ewan to Ineos Grenadiers with view to Tour de France dash wins.

“It is nice, clearly I do know him properly,” Thomas informed Cyclingnews. “He is an excellent man – we want a sprinter and he is a high sprinter. It is nice to have him.”

Learn extra Welshman highlights group’s twin targets within the Grand Tour

IPT developing Movistar’s proper shoulder on the entrance of the sector, and Ineos is subsequent to them. 

Break of 4 continues to be pushing the tempo, 51kmph, with a spot of two:24 with 55km to go.

Tesfazion is shifting up the sector after getting a slew of bottles from his Movistar group automobile. 

After what appeared an virtually leisurely experience, the break is dedicated to the transfer now with a gao of two:21 inside 60.7km to go.

Movistar again in management on the entrance, with Romo in third wheel. 

UAE, Visma are shifting up within the peloton. 

Break flying down the descent, 94kmpr, with a spot of two:14 at 64km to go.

67km to go

Velocity and depth has undoubtedly picked up within the break of 4, together with Van der Hoorn, Epis, Schelling and Schmid. The quartet now have 2 minutes on the sector.

Area rolls throughout the road, no KOM factors left after the 4 within the break.

Schmid takes the entrance with 200 metres to go on the climb, however no contests the KOM. Schmid was first throughout the road adopted by Epis, Schelling and Van der Hoorn.

Break appears at one another inside 1km to go. Van der Hoorn setting the tempo adopted by Schmid, Epis and Schelling. 

Peloton is now massed on the entrance, blockading any doable assaults. 

Break struggling on the steep part of the climb, with 1.4km to go to the highest. The 4 rider have 1:15 on the sector.

Reorganization on the entrance of the peloton, with groups entering into place for the upcoming climb. 

5km to high of KOM#1 for the break. The cat2 Parawa Hill is 2.9km-long with a mean gradient of seven% and max of 12.3%

Hayman added that he did not need to “sound like an previous fart” however he was firmly in favour of the new UCI feed zone guidelines.

“I do not need to see anybody dehydrated. I do not need to see anybody struggling – it is a laborious sport. They want the vitamin. However I believe it was a little bit of an arms race to get as many individuals, notably within the Tour de France, having water and ice at, you understand, each 10 kilometers, and having workers for that and autos for that – on the backside of a climb, center of a climb, high of the climb – having to make use of additional workers and autos only for these water bottles and ice. Possibly now individuals must rethink how they race and strategize round vitamin. “

Mat Hayman Jayco-AlUla DS, informed Cyclingnews initially:

“[gaps from yesterday were] not what I anticipated. We all know the extent is de facto excessive, and we all know that everyone involves this race ready. After they decide a group, it is not simply us which can be making ready to do properly right here. The extent throughout the board over the previous couple of years has been extraordinarily excessive. We see file occasions, each time, with greater teams coming with the quicker occasions. That is fairly spectacular.”

Schmid, who’s within the break right now, was desiring to be up there yesterday however “had an off day”.

“Chris Harper was attacking on Norton summit initially, and no one else actually wished to race. He was pulling on the primary time up the climb, and he was nonetheless attacking with 3k to go. So my hat goes off to him. He is doing all the pieces he can to make this race as laborious as doable. If no one else needs to affix, then our arms are fairly drained there.”

“Chris is in nice kind. He is a neighborhood boy and he is at all times able to do the job. For the time being, he is in an important spot, and let’s have a look at what occurs on that. He is aware of that climb [Willunga] fairly properly.”

Lecerf stopped for a nature break, sat up and will likely be again with the peloton quickly. 784km to go because the 4 up the toad now have 1:14

Lidl-Trek put 2 riders on the entrance, behind 2 Movistar as we head in direction of to the primary KOM of the day, the cat. 2 Parawa Hill, inside 10km to KOM.

First Van der Hoorn went to his group automobile, and Lecerf retains trying again for his automobile.  Hole across the one-minute mark

Right here’s what Kim Andersen, Lidl-Trek DS informed Cyclingnews initially, concerning the group ways with 5 riders within the high 18 on GC:

“We’ll attempt to comply with right now. I do not suppose there’s a lot to do, as a result of the issue is, once you’re so shut, you can not go wherever. After all, if there are loads of assaults we’ll comply with and in addition put individuals in them, however we’ll go for tomorrow.”

Nonetheless the entire Movistar group on the entrance, with Romo within the ochre jersey sitting fifth wheel. Hole is 1:25 with 85km to go.

First transfer got here from Schmid with Epis on his week adopted by Lecerf. Schmid takes high factors and one other 3 seconds time bonus for a complete of 6 seconds right now. Epis was second and Lecerf was third on the second intermediate dash in Yankalilla.

Constructing as much as the dash. Lecerf once more tightens up his sneakers as Schmid pulls off the entrance and bought to the again behind Lecerf.

Fabio Baldato, UAE Staff Emirates XRG DS, informed Cyclingnews initially:

About bonus seconds being essential for GC. ”That was a tactic from the groups. We let it go the primary days, however now a man like Konrad does not go anymore, as a result of right now we’ll management him. We noticed the opposite guys that took the seconds yesterday have been each dropped, and on the finish that second did not really matter. The one which did an excellent operation was [Patrick] Konrad from Lidl-Trek, as a result of the 5 seconds that he took within the break gave him third place. That was an important operation, however you do not have the house now to do this once more.”

“The race is fairly easy, as a result of right now and tomorrow is not going to be actually windy. Even a group like Movistar can actually management and convey the bunch collectively. It is going to be extra about [Willunga], full gasoline. Yesterday was extra open to totally different conditions. We additionally tried to make the race laborious the primary time on the climb. The extent this yr is excessive. We anticipated a much bigger choice, however the first time on the climb, it wasn’t going quick just like the second time. The day was not so sizzling. The traditional right here is about 30 to 35 [°C]. It was possibly 22, so the riders from Europe have been capable of carry out properly, that usually didn’t occur previously years. Now you might have an open race right now and tomorrow for a much bigger present.”

UAE have a two-prong tactic with Jhonathan Narvaez  setting second general, at 8 seconds again and Jay Vine at 15 seconds in arrears.

Break of 5 riders:  Epis, Van der Hoorn, Schelling, Schmid and Lecerf  have 1:44 with 91 km to go, and 5km to the following intermediate dash.

Martin Barras, ARA Australia directeur sportif, mentioned initially in Glenelg:

“Tour Down Underneath is a really high-level racing. So for the blokes, it is at all times slightly bit attempting. However we wished to get caught into it from the get go, we have achieved that, I believe, an excellent, strong lead within the king of the mountains jersey. We have now some ambitions for the younger rider’s classification, which retains us busy. And right now’s the day for the quick boys.”

100km to go

Peloton eased off barely to let the hole return to over one minutes, nudged out to 1:10 as they cross over the Myponga Reservoir wall 

And now the impartial automobile strikes out of the hole which is now 50 seconds with 104km to go.

The break is making its method to a slim, technical descent following this uncategorized climb.  Van der Hoorn requested the TV bike for his automobile however the automobiles have been taken out from the hole. Impartial service is available in to help.

Hole tumbled to below one minute. In the event that they get nearer, it’ll result in extra assaults from the peloton.

Epis is ready for the opposite 4 riders within the break, they usually’re again along with a gao of 1:14. Schelling goes again to the entrance of the group to set the tempo.

Epis pulls away from the break, with no pressing response from the 4 as they’re heading uphill on an uncategorized climb.

Just a few extra groups massing on the entrance of the peloton with 108km to go, and the hole is 1:36.

Puncture and rear wheel change for Geoffrey Bouchard, and he is again on his bike.

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was not feeling properly within the first three phases. Cyclingnews caught up with him initially in Glenelg:

“First day was an actual battle to get via. I felt higher the following day and yesterday felt higher once more, and so I am OK now. It is simply the actual fact of doing my bit for the group. It is a disgrace, you do not need to come right here and simply be struggling out the again, simply surviving.”

“I am attempting to take advantage of the following few days. We have now Magnus [Sheffield] nonetheless up there, so we’ll do what we are able to for him. The remainder of the boys are feeling good, so we’ll simply be lively and attempt to get one thing out of the race.”

Magnus Sheffield is 15 seconds down on GC.

Third on GC, at 10 seconds down, Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) mentioned initially in Glenelg:

“After all, daily is a chance, however I believe right now we’ll put the deal with Tim [Tom Teutenberg], for the dash and for no time loss for us. And tomorrow is a extremely essential day on Willunga, so we could have a deal with, truly, on daily.”

About racing conservatively right now. “If there is a chance, now we have to go for it. And we noticed two years in the past, there comes a small group in 10 seconds. So, if one thing like this occurs, wehave to be inside,now we have to be current. And yeah, with 5 guys, I believe, yeah, it is fairly comfy that we do not search for what they must search for one so we are able to play all with totally different playing cards.”

The peloton on the Tour Down Underneath are adjusting to a slew of latest UCI guidelines for 2025, most notably a provision that restricts meals and water hand-ups to designated feed zones and from group automobiles within the convoy. 

Whereas race organisers and groups seemed to be blindsided by the rule, which was printed on December 23, 2024, groups affiliation president Brent Copeland clarified the rationale behind the rule to Cyclingnews.

Learn extra in ‘Reckless driving’ outdoors race programs one motivator for brand new UCI feed zone guidelines

Break riders via the feed zone, grabbing bottles from their soigneurs. Hole holding at 2:02 with 115km to go.

Movistar-led peloton comes via the dash line, 2:06 behind the break.

Lecerf tried to leap first however had no room and Schmid accelerated to carry him off and took high factors and three time bonus seconds. Lecerf was second. Epis was third. 

Van der Hoorn main the 5 whereas Lecerf is tightening his sneakers behind the group.

5 escapees see 1km to the primary intermediate dash in Snapper Level. Hole at 1:39.

Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) mentioned initially that there was a “potential” of bonus seconds right now.

“We’ll at all times be trying to take a while. I believe Rohan [Dennis] confirmed right here a few years in the past that you can get a small hole and shake up the GC on at the present time. I believe additionally, Richie [Porte] misplaced the GC right here just a few years in the past too. So we have got to be on the ball, but when we’re established order by the top of the day, and we’re prepared for a giant showdown tomorrow, Willunga. I would even be stoked with that.”

Enthusiastic about Willunga Hill? “Massively. Get via right now, be on the identical time because the others, after which look, throw all of it on the market on Wallinga, I believe the place we’re sitting on the GC in the mean time, there’s not an entire lot to defend, however we’re not in a foul place both. So simply throw down the gauntlet on Willunga tomorrow and see what occurs. However get via right now safely and with all the large boys too.”

Peloton holding the hole to round 2 minutes. Now at 1:51 with 126km to go, and inside 5km to the primary intermediate dash with bonus seconds of three,2 and 1 on the road, in addition to dash factors.

Breakaway of Junior Lecerf  (Soudal-Quickstep), Giosue Epis (Arkea-B&B Inns), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty), Ide Schelling (XDS Astana) and Swiss champion Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla) have 2:17 on the sector with 131km to go.

Schmid is now digital chief on the highway.

Puncture for Alex Edmonson within the peloton.

The conversations proceed within the break. A number of chatter happening.

Lecerf has a fast chat along with his Soudal Fast-Step DS, grabs a gel and will get again to the break. Van der Hoorn and Schmid additionally engaged in a chat. 

137km to go

Break of 5 have 1:45 on the peloton which appears to be maintaining a good leash on the escapees. Common velocity has been over 40kmph to date.

Excellent news for the break because the peloton begins taking nature breaks, as Movistar goes to the entrance to set tempo for race chief Romo with 141km to go

Jayco-AlUla is patrolling the entrance of the peloton to assist the breakaway, with their teammate Schmid, will get an extended leash. Gao at 1:21

Schmid and Lecerf have joined the trio of Epis, Van der Hoorn and Schelling to make it 5 up the highway.  A number of chatter when the connection was made.

Swiss champion Schmid is 31 seconds again, and Lecerf is 35 seconds down on GC.

Two riders attempting to bridge as much as the trio are Mauro Schmid and Junior Lecerf.

The trio have 1:00 on the peloton.

They’re no hazard for the GC contenders, and the best positioned on GC is Schelling who’s 7:55 down.

Vine is on the medical automobile, getting checked out.

Break

Three riders are within the break: Giosue Epis (Arkea-B&B Inns), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty) and Ide Schelling (XDS Astana). 

Vine additionally went down in that earlier crash. He has blood on his leg and a tear in his shorts.  Vine and Coquard have rejoined the peloton.

Huge chase by the second group led by Jayco-AlUla has caught again onto the primary peloton group.

In the meantime, Coquard and Vine, chasing,  are within the convoy because the commissaire requires a barrage.

The crash induced a cut up within the peloton with 152km to go.

It was a crash on the again. Renard will get a motorcycle change, and continues on with shredded shorts.

Just a few riders needing a motorcycle change on the again, together with Jay Vine and Alexis Renard. Renard had an extended await his group automobile.

Extra groups need to get to the entrance. Schmid takes a solo flyer to get to the trio forward by 19 seconds.

Giosue Epis simply made it throughout to affix the opposite two riders. And extra strikes beginning to come from the sector which is now strung out.

One rider from Arkea attempting to bridge up. 

No response from the peloton to the 2 escapees.

And an instantaneous assault from Taco van der Hoorn and Ide Schelling.

Talking of O’Grady, flag drop from the person himself. And we’re racing!

Right this moment’s Glenelg begin and Victor Harbor end additionally featured in the course of the race’s first version in 1999 – a stage received in emphatic fashion by Tour Down Underneath race director Stuart O’Grady. 

A number of chatter and smiles within the peloton as they experience near the group directeur automobile within the impartial zone.

Good climate right now, with present temperatures of 20C, and partly cloudy.

The 136 riders are off for the 7.9km impartial zone. 

One rider lacking from the beginning is Martín López who crashed with 15km to go on stage 3. He was taken to the hospital and his XDS Astana group reported that he was absolutely aware and cooperative, feels good. The most recent replace reported that López was recognized with a light concussion and facial trauma. Finest needs for a fast restoration.

Stage 4 of the Tour Down Underneath is ready to begin in below 10 minutes. At 157.2km, right now’s stage is the longest of the 2025 Tour Down Underneath. Beginning in Glenelg, the course follows the scenic shoreline with two intermediate sprints earlier than the primary of two categorized ascents. If riders’ legs are in ache from Knott’s Hill, they will be feeling extra of a sting after they hit Parawa Hill and Nettle Hill. An uncategorised ascent with 12.2km to go complicates the image for the sprinters. This may very well be an important day for a breakaway.

Stage 3 winner Javier Romo (Movistar) tops the final classification with 8 seconds on stage 3 runner-up Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Staff Emirates XRG). Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) is third, and Finn Fisher-Black (Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) fourth, each tied at 10 seconds.

Fourth in yesterday’s stage, Albert Withen Philipsen (Lidl-Trek) is 15 seconds down on GC and took the lead in one of the best younger rider classification.

Double stage winner Sam Welsford (Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) leads the factors classification. Fergus Browning (ARA Australia) went within the break three days in a row and has a unsurmountable lead within the mountains classification

Welcome to Cyclingnews‘ dwell protection of stage 4, from Glenelg to Victor Harbor, of the Tour Down Underneath. The stage begins at 11:10am native time or 12:30am GMT and finishes roughly 4 hours later.