Louis Barré is the first KOM leader
Present in the day’s breakaway, Louis Barré took the lead on the first two climbs of the Tour Down Under, securing the best climber jersey at the end of stage 1.
Pictures: Getty
“The aim was to grab a few bonus points to put myself in the overall classification. I had to fight hard to get into the breakaway but the contract was more or less fulfilled. What’s more, I’m back in the best climber’s jersey. We got back on our feet after the second listed climb, which also enabled me to manage my efforts with a view to the next few days. I’m in the top 10 overall this evening. Now it’s up to me to hold on to that position. The conditions were difficult: it was 37°C and the lack of air made itself felt during the intense efforts made in the difficult sections.”
“We had 2 objectives for the day: to take some bonuses with Louis Barré and to be in the match in the sprint. The first objective was achieved. It was a little more complicated than expected because the breakaway took a long time to emerge, but he nonetheless took 2 seconds of bonus points and is now in 7th place in the overall classification. He also won the best climber jersey by competing for the ‘mountain’ points. As for the sprint, there was a placement problem in the final but there will be other opportunities this week. It’s very hot here and the first efforts are difficult for everyone.”