"UAE block was simply too strong": Visma | Lease a Bike misses the mark at Tour Down Under

For Visma | Lease a Bike, the Tour Down Under is focused on giving opportunities to some of their young talents and new signings, but the first tough stage did not yield a top result.

The 26-year-old German Anton Schiffer, who raced at the continental level with Bike Aid until last season, was the best-placed rider in his first WorldTour mountain stage, finishing 20th in the second group behind the winning UAE Emirates XRG duo Jay Vine and Jhonatan Narvaez.

“Our focus today was to be well-positioned at the start of the final climb,” reflects Visma team director Jesper Mørkøv. “We did well and had several riders near the front. Anton Schiffer rode a strong climb, but he was just a little too far back at the decisive moment. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG block was simply too strong today.”

In the upcoming, flatter stages, the Dutch team will again aim for stage victories with British rising star Matthew Brennan.