UAE Team Emirates wins team classification in the Tour Down Under

The 2019 Tour Down Under ends successfully for the UAE Team Emirates, taking the overall team classification (photograph by Bettini).

Domination from the first stage and held to the last, ending today up the Willunga Hill. Three men in the team directed by Neil Stephens made the top spots, meeting the high expectations established beforehand. Ulissi arrived on Willunga Hill in eighth at 17″ from the day’s winner Porte, Pogačar 15th at 20″ and Polanc 17th at 30″.

In the overall, Ulissi finished 9th at 40″ from winner Impey, Pogačar 13th at 43″ and Polanc 15th at 53″.

“It was a beautiful result for UAE Team Emirates to get on the podium as the best team in the first WorldTour race of the year,” said sports director Neil Stephens. “Today we had more goals that we were after. We wanted to take the team classification but to try to be in the best possible spots in the individual classification. We achieved that considering that we have three riders in the top 15 of the classification, with Ulissi in the top 10.
The great work that characterises this group added up over the week. It’s an important factor that will show positively in the next competitions“.

Stage 6 results
1 Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) 3h30’14”
2 Wout Poels (Team Sky) s.t.
3 Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) s.t.
8 Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 17″

Final overall classification
1 Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) 20h30’42”
2 Richie Porte (Trek Segafredo) 13″
3 Wout Poels (Team Sky) 17″
9 Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 40″