The Tour Down Under’s opening stage was a positive one for all four competing Tasmanians on Tuesday.
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Defending champion and race favourite Richie Porte (BMC) finished 59th after the 145-kilometre stage from Port Adelaide to Lyndoch, and is 10 seconds behind German winner Andre Greipel (three hours, 50 minutes and 21 seconds) on general classification.
Fellow Tasmanians Will Clarke (Drapac) and Scott Bowden (UniSA) broke away looking for king of the mountain points, before dropping back to be placed 91st and 105th for the stage.
Clarke was caught about 10km from the finish after taking the points in both intermediate sprints and was subsequently named most competitive rider.
The former stage winner is third in general classification and trails South African Nicholas Dlamini on the KOM table (10 points) by four points with Bowden (four) in third.
“It wasn’t a hard move to get into,” Clarke said. “I managed it pretty easily. The goal actually was to try to get the KOM jersey, which I made a pretty big blunder of chasing.”
Hobart’s Nathan Earle (UniSA) is 60th overall and Porte said he was happy to make it through day one unscathed.
“It’s a dangerous finish and the guys were really good around me,” the 32- year-old said.
“It’s one of those days that is just good to get out of the way and done with.
“Tomorrow (Wednesday) is one of the days that maybe Simon Gerrans hasn’t won here so hopefully he can stretch the legs.
“It’s another hard day and it’s hot so I think that will take its toll on everyone.”