The final stage of the three-day Australian stage race took the peloton from Norwood to Campbelltown. The decisive moments of the 126-kilometre stage came in the finale, which featured the double ascent of the steep Corkscrew Road. An early breakaway of two riders animated the opening phase of the stage, but the duo was caught by the peloton before the finale began.  

On the first of the two ascents of Corkscrew Road, the favourites made their first acceleration. Van Dam reacted alertly to an attack by UAE Team ADQ teammates Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi. The two teammates put Van Dam under pressure, forcing the Canadian to relinquish her position at the front. Not long afterwards, everything came back together. During the second and final passage of Corkscrew Road, Van Dam was part of the chasing group, a few seconds behind the leading quartet that included Rüegg. After a demanding finale, Van Dam ultimately secured an impressive fifth place in her first WorldTour stage race in the yellow-and-black colours of Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women.  

“I had the legs to win today, so I was a bit disappointed afterwards,” an honest Van Dam said. “I gave everything I had. On top of that, I was supported brilliantly by my teammates. They kept me well positioned at the front and made sure I stayed cool and hydrated on this hot day. I started the first ascent of Corkscrew Road in a good position. After the increase in pace, I was at the front with the UAE Team ADQ duo. They played the team tactics well, which unfortunately meant I had to let them go.”  

“On the final climb I was in the chasing group, but after all the efforts I lacked the power to follow the decisive acceleration,” Van Dam added. “It was the first time I was in a position where I could fight for overall victory. Looking back on the past three days, I can only be proud of how we raced as a team. We learned a lot here and will take this experience into the next races.”  

Sports director Jos van Emden reflected on an educational three days: “It’s only logical that there was some disappointment after the finish,” said Van Emden. “Sarah was in a very promising position for a long time with a view to overall victory. Together with the team, she gave everything and over the past few days has shown that she can compete for the top places at this level. On challenging courses, Sarah is a tough competitor for many rivals, and that’s something she can certainly build on for the future. All in all, we can be satisfied with how we presented ourselves in this race.”