Jack Ward delivered a breakthrough for Australian cycling by winning the Flèche Ardennaise in Stavelot, the first Australian to ever claim the race. The 21 year old from Melbourne capped a tough Ardennes week with a perfectly timed victory that confirms his rise after recent podiums at Liège Bastogne Liège U23 and the Circuit des Ardennes.
The 109th Giro d’Italia begins with a historic start in Nessebar, Bulgaria, before 3,468 kilometres of racing across Italy. Jonas Vingegaard headlines the race on debut, while Australians Jai Hindley, Kaden Groves and Michael Storer line up with ambitions ranging from overall contention to sprint success as the route quickly turns toward major mountain tests.
At La Vuelta Femenina, Lotte Kopecky holds the red jersey after SD Worx Protime’s stage 5 dominance, but the race now heads to the savage slopes of Les Praeres and later the Angliru. Lauretta Hanson impressed from the break earlier in the week as the general classification battle prepares to explode in the high mountains.
