Noemi Rüegg makes a big impression at the start of the women's World Tour season. The Swiss champion wins the 2nd stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia and takes the overall lead.
18.01.2025, 11:35
18.01.2025, 11:41
SDA
Rüegg outdid the best female climbing specialists at the summit finish on Willunga Hill. The 23-year-old Zurich rider from the EF Education-Oatly team pulled away from the competition a good 500 m before the finish of the 3.4 km long final climb and finished ten seconds ahead of Dutch rider Silke Smulders. Rüegg's compatriot Elise Chabbey, who now rides for Team FDJ-Suez, finished in 7th place, 26 seconds behind.
"I can't put into words how this feels," said Rüegg in the winner's interview after she couldn't hold back her tears of joy. Thanks to her first victory at the highest level, the Olympic seventh-placed rider also has a good chance of finishing the three-day tour as overall winner. Before the hilly final stage, she leads the overall standings by 15 seconds ahead of Smulders. Not only the constant ups and downs, but also the slightly uphill (sprint) finale in Stirling should suit her.
