CZAPLA CLAIMS YOUNG RIDER LEAD ON DAY 1 AT TOUR DOWN UNDER

Justyna Czapla couldn’t have asked for a better start to her 2026 season. The 21-year-old German pulled on the young riders jersey after crossing the line as the first U23 rider in stage one of Tour Down Under.

“It’s so nice, it’s worked out way better than I thought!” a delighted Justyna exclaimed, having initially expected her best chance of securing the jersey to come on stage three. “For today, the goal was top five in the best young rider classification, but it’s so cool to have it now after the first stage.”

Today’s result marks Justyna’s second-ever young rider jersey as she begins her fourth professional season. The first came following the stage one team time trial at La Vuelta España Femenina in 2025.

She explained her approach to the classification battle on the leg-sapping finishing drag through the Willunga township, which came at the end of an honest 137km – the longest stage ever raced at the Women’s Tour Down Under.

“The first goal was to help Chloé [Dygert] for the lead-out and then the second goal to lose as little time and as fewer positions as possible. I tried to stay on Chloe’s wheel and protect it, but it didn’t work that well because she found her way out and I was still behind some other riders, but it was also a high pace so I was already quite on the limit. Everyone just wanted to fight for their place, so it felt really hectic and dangerous, but I just tried to follow the riders in front of me and fight for every position.”

After several cooler, overcast days where jumpers were the norm, the Australian summer began to show itself again this weekend – the tour starting on a Saturday. Temperatures reached a manageable 27 degrees as the peloton darted between Willunga’s gentle slopes, the bright blue waters of Aldinga Beach, and the rolling roads of McLaren Vale. While the wind was initially subdued, dry vegetation soon began to flitter as the stage wore on. Justyna breaks it down:

“It was quite fast and rolling, and also windy. Not so much in the beginning, but then it got quite windy and some riders tried to do echelons, but I think we managed to stay well in the front, and then we tried everything to do a good lead out for Chloe. We lost ourselves a bit but I think we did everything we could.”

Stage two presents another tough early-season test. With nearly 2500m of climbing packed into a relentless 131km, pressure will be on the pedals throughout the day. The finale unfolds on the demanding Paracombe circuit, where unassuming climbs could offer opportunistic launchpads. For Justyna, the objective for the remaining two stages is clear.

“I will give everything to keep the jersey until the end. I’ve worn a jersey once before at La Vuelta, but that was the only time, so I’m really happy to have it also here in Australia, at the first race of the season.”

HOW TO FOLLOW 

Stage 2 – Tour Down Under | Sun, Jan 18 | 130.7km | 2438m elevation | start: 11:10 – fastest finish: 14:38 ACDT (5:08 CET).

Stage 3 – Tour Down Under | Mon, Jan 19 | 126.5km | 1971m elevation | start: 11:10 – fastest finish: 14:53 ACDT (5:23 CET).

Daily coverage available from 11:00 ACDT (or 1:30 CET/ 16:30 PST) on 7Plus, Eurosport, FloBikes and other regional broadcasters.