Daniek Hengeveld Wins Opening Stage of Tour Down Under

Daniek Hengeveld of Ceratizit-WNT claimed victory in the opening stage of the women’s Tour Down Under, marking her first UCI World Tour stage win. The 22-year-old Dutch rider executed a daring solo breakaway 50 kilometers from the finish, finishing 36 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Ally Wollaston and Austria's Kathrin Schweinberger. Hengeveld's bold move not only secured her the stage win but also the overall lead, with a 43-second advantage over Wollaston. Despite the heat and a challenging route, Hengeveld expressed her surprise and joy at the victory following a difficult year of recovery from a major crash. Notably, American cyclist Chloe Dygert attempted an attack late in the race but ultimately finished in 14th place. The next stage will be a 115km route from Unley to Willunga Hill, promising further challenges for the riders.