The fourth stage of the Santos Tour Down Under 2024 brought a new victory for Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe). The Australian, who celebrated his birthday in the best way, was the fastest in the sprint, in a 136.2-kilometer fraction disputed between Murray Bridge and Port Elliot. Mexico’s Isaac del Toro (UAE team Emirates) held on to the lead.
Welsford, who won his third victory in the Australian round, this time just beat the Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty) and the New Zealander Lars Boven (Alpecin – Deceuninck), 2nd and 3rd respectively. Colombian Álvaro Hodeg (UAE Team Emirates) finished 120th.
The breakaway of the day was led by Australian Jackson Medway (Australian National Team) and Brazilian Vinicius Rangel (Movistar Team), but in the final kilometers the two adventurers were neutralized by the peloton.
The first race of the WorldTour calendar will continue with a mountainous stage starting from Christies Beach and finishing on Willunga Hill for 129.3 kilometers. The fifth stage of the Australian round will finish on a categorized first category pass.