GB’s Watson wins Tour Down Under prologue

Ineos Grenadiers’ opening stage prologue, Sam Watson of Great Britain, came in ahead of compatriot Ethan Vernon.

In Adelaide, South Australia, the first race of the 10-month-long UCI World Tour, British road race champion Watson, 24, defeated Vernon by just half a second.

Watson expressed his excitement at winning the first game of the season. It’s incredible to be in the lead. Opening the season in this manner is wonderful for both the team and myself.

Following a staff and management shake last year to facilitate a return to the Tour de France, the British high-budget team Ineos are looking to significantly improve their performances this year.

Riders opted to use road bikes with rear disc wheels rather than time trial bikes during hot summer days, largely to lower the distance traveled for a race from the sport’s European base.

Prologues are frequently not the best indicator of form because they are typically much shorter than time-trials.

Vernon, 25, is a sprint champion who rides for the new NSN cycling team, which is co-owned by Andres Iniesta, who won the World Cup. He is capable of achieving victory on stage one.

The riders’ hardest climbing test on Saturday is the Tour Down Under, which lasts for six days and includes Willunga Hill.

Britain’s Josie Nelson, who spent the majority of the three-day event wearing the blue points jersey, finished 12th overall for Picnic-PostNL in the women’s race on Monday.