First non-Aussie wins Women's TDU

American Ruth Winder takes stage three and overall victory

- James Shrubsall

American Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo) held on to a slender advantage to win the first top-level race of the season, the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under.

Collecting a stage along the way, she finished the four-stage race five seconds ahead of runner-up Liane Lippert (Sunweb), with home nation rider Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) — winner of the last three editions — a further second behind.

Like its sister race the men’s TDU, which started on Tuesday, the UCI 2.Pro women’s race is held in South Australia, based in Adelaide.