Impey (MTS) claims overall in Australia

Breakaways by Castrillo, Bico biggest highlights by Movistar Team, which claimed two top-ten sprint finishes with Sütterlin (People's Choice Classic) and Barbero (Stirling and Sunday's Adelaide finish)

South Africa’s Daryl Impey (MTS) confirmed Sunday his overall victory in the 20th-anniversary edition of the Tour Down Under after the closing, 90km circuit race in Adelaide’s central district, holding off local hero and former winner Richie Porte (BMC). The inevitable finishing bunch sprint was notched up by André Greipel (LTS), with Carlos Barbero in a fine 9th spot.

#TDU André Greipel (LTS) gana la última etapa del @tourdownunder en Adelaida en un ajustado sprint ante Ewan (MTS). Top-ten provisional para @BarberoCbc. pic.twitter.com/m4EWtOuReb

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) January 21, 2018

The opening event of the 2018 UCI WorldTour came to a close as the Movistar Team enjoyed a week of learning and seeking for good legs, the Blues building up for a long, exhausting season. The squad directed by José Luis Arrieta, a youthful roster with all seven members under 29 years old, claimed two top-ten stage finishes with Jasha Sütterlin –at the People’s Choice Classic criterium– and Carlos Barbero –on stage two in Stirling and today’s finish-. However, the brightest moments from the Telefónica-backed squad were offered by two breakaways: those of Jaime Castrillo, the Most Competitive rider on day two, and Nuno Bico, whose crash did not prevent from shining at the Queen stage towards Willunga Hill.

The Movistar Team will head back to the Iberian Peninsula on Tuesday, while two other blocks from the Spanish outfit seek for success in America and Europe, with the Vuelta a San Juan starting this Sunday and the Challenge Mallorca kicking off on Thursday 25th.

Picture (c): Dario Belingheri / BettiniPhoto.net