The opening stage for the Tour de Korea started according to plan with a breakaway group of 5, who were chased and brought back due to combined efforts by ORCIA-GreenEDGE and Drapac. The Australian outfit was aiming for the predicted bunch sprint finish, and were in great position until they got involved in a crash with just a few hundred metres to go. 

Sports director David McPartland explains: “The stage started off as a predominantly flat one and the profile suited a bunch sprint, which was our goal. After a while fives riders escaped, and we were happy with that. Once their gap reached six minutes, we started to ride at the front to control and make sure they didn’t go any further than six minutes.

“We were supported by Drapac and that was great. We kept the break at six minutes until the middle part of the race and then we started to ride harder to get the gap down, with which we never had any trouble. 

“Towards the finish we were setting up Caleb Ewan for the sprint and were in the front group. Everything until about 1200 metres to go was spot on perfect. However, with only 500 metres to go, a few of the riders’ wheels touched and there was a crash in which we were involved. Everyone is OK, but they got some skin off.

“It was a good day for us, until the final 500 metres, that was a disaster! Tomorrow will be a similar event for us, and we’ll stick to the plan, which is to win a stage.”