Ulissi shows his experience and earns the 2nd place in GC

The first race of the season ended with the Italian veteran on the podium of the Tour Down Under.

On the final climb of Willunga Hill Ulissi finished 6th managing to detach his direct rivals for the GC.

The stage saw immediately a breakaway of 26 riders, in which Marcato and Laengen rode all day long.
At the foot of the last ascent, the chasing group sewed up the gap, with the climbers ready to go.

English Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) won the stage, followed by the Australian Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) who conquered the final General Classification.

Philipsen managed to get the lead of the Points Classification, that gives him the blue jersey.

Ulissi: “At the beginning of the week I was hoping and aiming for a final placement in the top 10. Finishing second here can only make me happy. From the start I always had good legs and felt good also thanks to the help of the team who worked perfectly throughout the whole Tour Down Under.

No one today expected a stage like this, but we were good at being present in the breakaway. In the end, the team did a great job putting me in the front where I wanted to be so I was able to push as I wanted”.

Philipsen: “Wearing the blue jersey at the end of such a race is a great feeling. Again today the team worked at its best in a stage different from what we expected, and Diego’s second place in the General is proof of this”.

Stage 6 results:
1.Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) 3h24’54”
2.Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) +3”
3.Manuele Boaro (Astana Pro Team) +4”
6.Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates ) +4”

General Classification after stage 6:
1.Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) 20h37’08”
2.Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) +25”
3.Simon Geschke (CCC Team) +25”