French cyclist Bryan Coquard has finally booked his first victory in the WorldTour in his eleventh season as a professional. The 30-year-old Cofidis sprinter won the fourth stage in the Tour Down Under. It was Coquard’s 49th victory, but only his first in the highest class of cycling.
“I had to wait ten years for this,” said the Frenchman, who has mainly driven for procontinental teams in recent years. “I have won many races, but never one in the WorldTour. It was my goal for 2023 to achieve that. To do that in January is very nice. I am very proud and very happy.”
Australian Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) retained the overall lead. Vine starts Sunday with 15 seconds ahead of the Brit Simon Yates and the Spaniard Pello Bilbao on the final stage, in which the riders have to climb Mount Lofty five times. The finish line is also located on that more than 700 meter high mountain after 112.5 kilometers.
Source: ANP
