Our Danish sprinter got the team's season off to a perfect start in Australia by winning the first stage of the Tour Down Under on Tuesday. It was his first victory in our colours, and it also enabled him to take the overall leader's jersey.
The day after the prologue won by Samuel Watson (Ineos Grenadiers), this first 120-kilometre road stage around Tanunda promised to be a sprinters' race. Despite three passes over Menglers Hill, the course offered the prospect of a bunch sprint, which the team did its utmost to achieve.
Perfectly executed teamwork
An early breakaway livened up the race without really worrying the peloton, as our team managers Mark Renshaw and Luke Roberts had anticipated at the morning briefing. In the final kilometres, Oscar Chamberlain, Pierre Gautherat, Tord Gudmestad and Antoine L'Hôte took on their responsibilities at the front of the race to put Tobias in the best possible position. Tord perfectly fulfilled his role as last pilot fish, ideally positioning our sprinter as he entered the final 200 metres.
Launched with perfect timing, Tobias used all his power to resist the comebacks of Matthew Brennan (Team Visma I Lease a Bike) and Sam Welsford (Ineos - Grenadiers). An authoritative sprint that rewarded the team's hard work.
Overall leader
Thanks to the ten-second bonus, Tobias also takes the ochre leader's jersey, which he will wear on tomorrow's second stage. An ideal start to the Australian campaign for DECATHLON CMA CGM Team.
See this post on Instagram
Tobias Lund Andresen
«The preparation was perfect»
«I can't even remember the last time I felt such emotion. It's simply indescribable. The bike is so fast and my team-mates did a remarkable job. I really enjoyed that final. You might think it's a bit crazy for a sprinter to take on a final like that, but the preparation with our team managers, Mark Renshaw and Luke Roberts, was perfect. It's rare to be able to execute a race plan so precisely, but today we succeeded. Tomorrow will be a different day, but winning this first stage gives immense confidence to the whole team and particularly to Nicolas Prodhomme and Callum Scotson, who are in great form. It's an honour to wear the leader's jersey in a WorldTour race of this level, and I sincerely hope we can keep it within the team.»
The information
Double success for DECATHLON CMA CGM
Tobias Lund Andresen's victory on the first stage, consolidated by bonifications, enabled him to take the lead in the overall classification. This performance earned him the leader's jersey as well as that of best sprinter.
8
The figure
The number of professional victories for Tobias Lund Andresen. After six successes in 2024 and one in 2025, he will win his first WorldTour title at the start of 2026 in his new colours.
