Unbeatable Wollaston extends lead at Tour Down Under with second stage win
CyclingSunday, 18 January 2026 at 09:31
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Follow us on GoogleAlly Wollaston has once again proven impossible to beat at the Women’s Tour Down Under. After winning the opening stage, the New Zealander from FDJ–SUEZ also took victory in stage two, extending her lead in the general classification. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education–Oatly) finished second, with Josie Nelson (Picnic PostNL) completing the podium.
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Stage one of the Tour Down Under was not the most spectacular affair, but it did offer a clear conclusion: Wollaston was simply the strongest in the uphill sprint. Stage two, finishing in Paracombe after 130.7 kilometres, followed a similar script. The profile featured several rolling sections and short climbs, but on paper, it was again a day for the fast finishers.
That did not stop riders from trying to animate the race. On a hot Australian day, Wilma Aintila (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) went on the attack early and built up a lead of around a minute and a half. Behind her, teams such as Lidl-Trek and Human Powered Health kept the pace steady in the peloton.
Aintila managed to collect mountain points during her solo move, but it was Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) who ultimately scored the most points in the mountains classification on the day. With around 40 kilometres to go, the escape was brought back and the race opened up.
Read on below the video!
Dygert and co on an adventure
Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco) attempted to force the issue next, with Maud Oudeman (Visma | Lease a Bike) joining her. Their move was quickly shut down by Amber Kraak of FDJ–SUEZ, showing once again how attentively Wollaston’s team was riding.
Later on, a dangerous group briefly slipped clear, featuring Julia Kopecky (SD Worx–Protime), Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal), Chloé Dygert (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto), Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and Sarah Van Dam (Visma | Lease a Bike). But FDJ–SUEZ kept everything under control, determined to set up another sprint for their leader.
As expected, the stage was decided in a sprint from a reduced peloton. World champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education–Oatly) did an excellent lead-out for Noemi Rüegg, but once again Wollaston proved untouchable. The New Zealander launched her sprint at the right moment and powered past her rivals to claim her second consecutive stage victory.
Results stage 2 Women´s Tour Down Under 2026
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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