Sam Welsford Secures First Victory of the 2024 Season at the Tour Down Under Opening Stage

Australian sprinter Sam Welsford claimed victory on the opening stage of the Tour Down Under, marking the start of the 2024 World Tour season. Representing BORA-hansgrohe, Welsford’s win came after a well-controlled race by the team, culminating in an anticipated bunch sprint over 144 kilometers in the Adelaide Hills. Following an impressive lead-out from Danny van Poppel, Welsford surged ahead to clinch the team’s first triumph of the season, earning him the coveted leader’s jersey for the second stage.

In Welsford’s own words, “This was crazy! I’m lost for words. It was quite hairy down the hill and there were some crashes and near misses, but the boys kept calm and did an amazing job. It’s a dream come true – it’s the first race of the season and my first win with the team. The boys backed me one hundred per cent and winning here is really special. The team here is probably the strongest on paper with our lead out, and it all paid off today. The guys rode at the front at the beginning of the race to not allow a breakaway to escape too far, and then I had the perfect lead-out. This is a massive team win and I am really stoked for them.”

With Welsford’s outstanding performance, the BORA-hansgrohe team has set a strong start for the 2024 season, securing a promising victory early on in the prestigious Tour Down Under.