# 2018 Women's Tour Down Under

The 2018 Santos Women's Tour Down Under was a women's cycle stage race held in Australia from 11 to 14 January, 2018. The Women's Tour Down Under, being held for the third time, was held as a UCI rating of 2.1 race, having been a 2.2 race in 2017.
The race was won for the second year in succession – becoming the first rider to win multiple Tour Down Under races – by Mitchelton–Scott rider Amanda Spratt. Spratt placed third on the stage to Mengler Hill, and assumed the race leader's ochre jersey the following day by winning the stage into Hahndorf. Spratt won the race by 41 seconds ahead of Lauren Stephens, riding for Cylance Pro Cycling. 2016 race winner Katrin Garfoot completed the podium, riding for the UniSA–Australia team, a further 40 seconds in arrears of Stephens. With her above finishes on hill-top stages, Spratt won the polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification, while Garfoot won the sprints classification and its green jersey on the final day in Adelaide, winning all four intermediate sprints during the stage.
The race's other jersey, the white jersey, went to Grace Anderson of the New Zealand national team, as the best-placed rider – in ninth overall – under the age of 25. Mitchelton–Scott won the teams classification, after placing Spratt, Lucy Kennedy and Annemiek van Vleuten in the top-six overall.

## Teams

17 teams participated in the 2018 Women's Tour Down Under.
UCI Women's Teams
* Alé–Cipollini
* Bepink
* Cylance Pro Cycling
* Mitchelton–Scott
* Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank
* Trek–Drops
* TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air
* Team Virtu Cycling
* WaowDeals Pro Cycling
* Wiggle High5
Other teams
* Holden Team Gusto Racing
* Maaslandster International
* New Zealand (national team)
* Specialized Women's Racing
* Sydney Uni–Staminade
* TIS Racing
* UniSA–Australia

## Route

The race route was announced on 22 November 2017.
List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 11 January | Gumeracha to Gumeracha | 115.7 km (71.9 mi) | Hilly stage | Annette Edmondson (AUS) |
| 2 | 12 January | Lyndoch to Mengler Hill | 101.2 km (62.9 mi) | Hilly stage | Katrin Garfoot (AUS) |
| 3 | 13 January | The Bend Motorsport Park to Hahndorf | 121.1 km (75.2 mi) | Hilly stage | Amanda Spratt (AUS) |
| 4 | 14 January | Adelaide | 46 km (28.6 mi) | Flat stage | Chloe Hosking (AUS) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 11 January 2018 — Gumeracha to Gumeracha, 115.7 km (71.9 mi)

Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle High5 | 3h 08' 53" |
| 2 | Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 0" |
| 3 | Lauretta Hanson (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | + 0" |
| 4 | Sarah Roy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 0" |
| 5 | Emilie Moberg (NOR) | Team Virtu Cycling | + 0" |
| 6 | Chloe Hosking (AUS) | Alé–Cipollini | + 0" |
| 7 | Maria Vittoria Sperotto (ITA) | Bepink | + 0" |
| 8 | Kristina Clonan (AUS) | TIS Racing | + 0" |
| 9 | Barbara Guarischi (ITA) | Team Virtu Cycling | + 0" |
| 10 | Georgia Baker (AUS) | TIS Racing | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle High5 | 3h 08' 41" |
| 2 | Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 6" |
| 3 | Lauretta Hanson (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | + 8" |
| 4 | Chloe Hosking (AUS) | Alé–Cipollini | + 9" |
| 5 | Emilie Moberg (NOR) | Team Virtu Cycling | + 11" |
| 6 | Sarah Roy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 12" |
| 7 | Maria Vittoria Sperotto (ITA) | Bepink | + 12" |
| 8 | Kristina Clonan (AUS) | TIS Racing | + 12" |
| 9 | Barbara Guarischi (ITA) | Team Virtu Cycling | + 12" |
| 10 | Georgia Baker (AUS) | TIS Racing | + 12" |

### Stage 2
#### 12 January 2018 — Lyndoch to Mengler Hill, 101.2 km (62.9 mi)

Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Katrin Garfoot (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | 2h 43' 43" |
| 2 | Lucy Kennedy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 0" |
| 3 | Amanda Spratt (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 8" |
| 4 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 15" |
| 5 | Kate McIlroy (NZL) | Specialized Women's Racing | + 16" |
| 6 | Shannon Malseed (AUS) | Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank | + 21" |
| 7 | Lauren Stephens (USA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 21" |
| 8 | Kathrin Hammes (GER) | Trek–Drops | + 51" |
| 9 | Taryn Heather (AUS) | Specialized Women's Racing | + 51" |
| 10 | Grace Brown (AUS) | Holden Team Gusto Racing | + 51" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Katrin Garfoot (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | 5h 52' 26" |
| 2 | Lucy Kennedy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 4" |
| 3 | Amanda Spratt (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 14" |
| 4 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 25" |
| 5 | Kate McIlroy (NZL) | Specialized Women's Racing | + 26" |
| 6 | Lauren Stephens (USA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 31" |
| 7 | Shannon Malseed (AUS) | Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank | + 31" |
| 8 | Taryn Heather (AUS) | Specialized Women's Racing | + 1' 01" |
| 9 | Grace Brown (AUS) | Holden Team Gusto Racing | + 1' 01" |
| 10 | Kathrin Hammes (GER) | Trek–Drops | + 1' 01" |

### Stage 3
#### 13 January 2018 — The Bend Motorsport Park to Hahndorf, 121.1 km (75.2 mi)

Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amanda Spratt (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | 3h 47' 24" |
| 2 | Lauren Stephens (USA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 7" |
| 3 | Grace Brown (AUS) | Holden Team Gusto Racing | + 59" |
| 4 | Katrin Garfoot (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | + 1' 32" |
| 5 | Lucy Kennedy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1' 34" |
| 6 | Emma Grant (GBR) | Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank | + 1' 34" |
| 7 | Mikayla Harvey (NZL) | New Zealand (national team) | + 1' 38" |
| 8 | Grace Anderson (NZL) | New Zealand (national team) | + 1' 40" |
| 9 | Chloe Hosking (AUS) | Alé–Cipollini | + 1' 40" |
| 10 | Marlies Mejías (CUB) | TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air | + 1' 40" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amanda Spratt (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | 9h 39' 52" |
| 2 | Lauren Stephens (USA) | Cylance Pro Cycling | + 29" |
| 3 | Katrin Garfoot (AUS) | UniSA–Australia | + 1' 30" |
| 4 | Lucy Kennedy (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1' 36" |
| 5 | Grace Brown (AUS) | Holden Team Gusto Racing | + 1' 54" |
| 6 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 2' 07" |
| 7 | Shannon Malseed (AUS) | Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank | + 2' 09" |
| 8 | Kate McIlroy (NZL) | Specialized Women's Racing | + 2' 25" |
| 9 | Grace Anderson (NZL) | New Zealand (national team) | + 2' 42" |
| 10 | Emma Grant (GBR) | Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank | + 2' 46" |

### Stage 4
#### 14 January 2018 — Adelaide, 46 km (28.6 mi)

Result of Stage 4 :
| – | Result of Stage 4 Rank Rider Team Time 1  Chloe Hosking (AUS) Alé–Cipollini 1h 07' 29" 2  Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) Cylance Pro Cycling + 0" 3  Annette Edmondson (AUS) Wiggle High5 + 0" 4  Abi Van Twisk (GBR) Trek–Drops + 0" 5  Maria Vittoria Sperotto (ITA) Bepink + 0" 6  Emilie Moberg (NOR) Team Virtu Cycling + 0" 7  Jelena Erić (SRB) Cylance Pro Cycling + 0" 8  Sarah Roy (AUS) Mitchelton–Scott + 0" 9  Alison Jackson (CAN) Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank + 0" 10  Marlies Mejías (CUB) TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air + 0" | Final general classification Rank Rider Team Time 1  Amanda Spratt (AUS) Mitchelton–Scott 10h 47' 21" 2  Lauren Stephens (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling + 41" 3  Katrin Garfoot (AUS) UniSA–Australia + 1' 21" 4  Lucy Kennedy (AUS) Mitchelton–Scott + 1' 36" 5  Grace Brown (AUS) Holden Team Gusto Racing + 1' 54" 6  Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Mitchelton–Scott + 2' 07" 7  Shannon Malseed (AUS) Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank + 2' 09" 8  Kate McIlroy (NZL) Specialized Women's Racing + 2' 25" 9  Grace Anderson (NZL) New Zealand (national team) + 2' 42" 10  Emma Grant (GBR) Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank + 2' 46" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2018 Women's Tour Down Under, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers at intermediate sprints and at the finish of mass-start stages, the leader received an ochre jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2018 Women's Tour Down Under, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Additionally, there was a sprints classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 8 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 16 points, with 12 for second, 8 for third, 6 for fourth, with one point fewer per place down to 2 points for 8th place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued – awarded on a 5–3–2 scale – at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification as noted above. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a white jersey with navy polka dots. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided in the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1993 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Mountains classification | Sprint classification | Young rider classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Annette Edmondson | Annette Edmondson | Sabrina Stultiens | Annette Edmondson | Maria Vittoria Sperotto | UniSA–Australia |
| 2 | Katrin Garfoot | Katrin Garfoot | Katrin Garfoot | Annette Edmondson | Grace Anderson | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 3 | Amanda Spratt | Amanda Spratt | Amanda Spratt | Amanda Spratt | Grace Anderson | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 4 | Chloe Hosking | Amanda Spratt | Amanda Spratt | Katrin Garfoot | Grace Anderson | Mitchelton–Scott |
| Final | Final | Amanda Spratt | Amanda Spratt | Katrin Garfoot | Grace Anderson | Mitchelton–Scott |