Samuel Watson (Ineos Grenadiers) won the opening prologue of the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide, holding off Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team) by 0.59 seconds to claim the ochre leader's jersey.
Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished fourth at 4.02 seconds, gaining an early time advantage over his general classification rivals on a course that required road bikes rather than time trial equipment.
Watson was the 11th of 140 starters to take the ramp and spent nearly two hours in the hot seat as a 50km/h southerly headwind slowed later starters. His 4:16.90 remained the best time, including against Vernon's debut ride for the newly rebranded NSN squad.
Image credits: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
GC gaps take shape
The 3.6km effort created immediate separation among the pre-race favourites. Vine, the reigning Australian time trial champion, clipped a barrier entering Victoria Park but recovered to finish as the fastest overall contender.
His main rivals now face the following deficits; the race has often been settled by single-digit margins:
- Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe): +3s to Vine
- Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla): +4s
- Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): +5s
- Ben O'Connor (Team Jayco AlUla): +10s
- Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): +15s
O'Connor is now nearly 10 seconds behind Vine in the overall standings. The Australian now trails three UAE riders in the virtual standings before the race reaches its climbing stages.
Ineos pivot to Welsford
Despite holding ochre, Watson indicated his role would shift immediately. Sam Welsford, who has won six TDU stages across the last two editions, finished 30th at 9.8 seconds and will lead Ineos in the sprint on the Tanunda road stage.
"I'll be the last or second-last lead-out guy for Sam tomorrow," Watson said. "That's where our focus is."
The stage to Tanunda on Wednesday is the first of two stages likely to be decided in bunch sprints before Stage 2, which includes a double ascent of Corkscrew Road, where the gaps established in Adelaide may change.
Find out on all the details on how to watch Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under here.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
