Pikulik wins opening stage of 2023 Tour Down Under

Poland’s Daria Pikulik rode powerfully in a bunch sprint finish to claim the first stage of Australia’s Women’s Tour Down Under outside Adelaide yesterday.
Pikulik (Human Powered Health) surged through an opening for her first World Tour stage win from France’s Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez) and Australia’s Georgia Baker (Team Jayco-AlUla) at the end of the 110.4-kilometre Glenelg to Aldinga stage.
“I didn’t expect to win today, this is my first World Tour race and my first race with my new team,” Pikulik said.
“I can’t believe I win today. I’m just a Polish girl making the dream come true.”
With time bonuses Pikulik will take the leader’s jersey into today’s more hilly 90-km second stage from Birdwood to Uraidla.
“Daria Pikulik is our triple podium star,” her team tweeted. “Stage victory, Leader’s jersey, Sprints jersey. Not a bad return for your first road race in #HumanPoweredHealth colours.”
The three-stage Women’s TDU now forms part of the UCI World Tour, with points on offer. Pikulik, predominantly a track rider, used her powerful sprint finish to take the stage after the peloton reeled in a two-strong breakaway comprising Australians Isabelle Carnes (Ara Skip Capital) and Gina Ricardo (Team Bridgelane) with 10km to the finish line.
Leading Australian contender Amanda Spratt, who has won the TDU for three consecutive years (2017-2019) finished fifth in the opening stage for her Trek-Segafredo team.
Spratt lies eighth overall, 10 seconds down going into the second stage.
Another prominent local contender, Grace Brown, leading the French FDJ-Suez team, is fourth overall after the first stage, seven seconds down on the leader. After Baker’s third-place finish, her Team Jayco AlUla tweeted: “A big effort on a hard and windy day, the squad back Baker for the finish and she rounds out the podium with 3rd on what was a fast and frantic dash to the line.”

Australia’s Women’s Tour Down Under results
Adelaide, Australia: Results from the first stage of the women’s Tour Down Under yesterday, a 110.4km ride from Glenelg to Aldinga:
1 Daria Pikulik (POL/Human Powered Health) 3hr 3min 1sec, 2. Clara Copponi (FRA/FDJ-SUEZ) at 0sec, 3. Georgia Baker (AUS/Team Jayco-AlUla), 4. Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN/Zaaf Cycling Team), 5. Amanda Spratt (AUS/Trek-Segafredo)
Overall standings:
1. Daria Pikulik (POL/Human Powered Health) 3hr 2min 51sec, 2. Clara Copponi (FRA/FDJ-SUEZ) at 4sec, 3. Georgia Baker (AUS/Team Jayco-AlUla) 6sec, 4. Grace Brown (AUS/FDJ-SUEZ) 7sec, 5. Alexandra Manly (AUS/Team Jayco-AlUla 8sec.