Chloé Dygert Wins Stage 3 as Noemi Rüegg Secures First Women’s WorldTour GC Victory at the Santos Tour Down Under

By Megan Flottorp

We are off to the races, folks! The 2025 Santos Women’s Tour Down Under delivered a thrilling opening to the Women’s WorldTour season, showcasing an impressive mix of strategic brilliance, raw power, and career-defining moments. With Chloé Dygert claiming victory on the final stage in Stirling and Noemi Rüegg securing her first-ever Women’s WorldTour general classification (GC) win, the event set a very spirited tone for the year ahead.

Stage 1: A coastal thriller in Snapper Point

The race began with a 101.9-kilometre stage from Brighton to Snapper Point, offering stunning coastal scenery and a mix of steep climbs and sharp descents. The day’s defining moment came from Daniek Hengeveld (CERATIZIT-WNT), who displayed remarkable courage and determination by launching a bold solo attack with 50 kilometres remaining. Her bravery paid off as she held her advantage to the finish line, crossing 36 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Behind her, Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ) and Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health) completed the podium, rounding off a thrilling opening day.

Results

  1. Daniek Hengeveld (CERATIZIT-WNT)
  2. Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ)
  3. Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health)

Stage 2: Willunga Hill decides the GC

Stage 2 brought the Queen Stage of the tour, a gruelling 115-kilometer journey from Unley to Willunga Hill. Known for its punishing double ascents of the iconic climb, this stage was where the general classification contenders came to the fore.

Noemi Rüegg stamped her authority with a powerful ride, dropping her rivals on the final climb to secure the stage win and take the overall lead. Silke Smulders (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) rounded out the top three on the day, but it was Rüegg who stole the spotlight.

Her victory on Willunga Hill set her up as the rider to beat heading into the final stage.

Women's Tour Down Under
The 2025 Santos Women’s Tour Down Under delivered a thrilling opening to the Women’s WorldTour season. © Profimedia

aiResults

  1. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
  2. Silke Smulders (Liv-AlUla-Jayco)
  3. Mie Bjorndal Ottestad (Uno-X Mobility)

Stage 3: The hilly circuit of Stirling

The final stage of this year’s Santos Women’s Tour Down Under unfolded on a challenging 105.9-kilometer circuit around Stirling, a route packed with rolling terrain and a total elevation gain of 2,142 meters. It was a course designed to test the mettle of the peloton, with undulating climbs promising fireworks from start to finish.

The day’s action began with a series of attacks as teams sought to disrupt the GC standings. Ella Simpson (St Michel-Auber93) launched a daring solo move early on, thrilling her local fans as she built a lead exceeding two minutes. The peloton, however, remained unshaken and managed to keep the gap under control. With 40 kilometres to go, Simpson’s advantage began to dwindle as teams like Lidl-Trek and EF Education-Oatly ramped up the chase, setting the stage for the dramatic finish fans were eagerly anticipating.

As the race entered its closing kilometres, the relentless pace of the peloton shredded the field into smaller groups. Chloé Dygert (CANYON//SRAM-Zondacrypto) showcased her explosive sprinting ability to claim a well-earned stage victory, holding off Silke Smulders (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) and overall leader Noemi Rüegg, who sprinted to third.

Noemi Rüegg’s triumph

The Swiss rider Noemi Rüegg proved her mettle as a rising star throughout the three-day race. Having claimed the ochre jersey on Stage 2, she entered the final day with a slim advantage over her closest competitors. Despite facing relentless attacks from rivals like Amanda Spratt and Ruth Edwards (Lidl-Trek), Rüegg displayed composure and tactical acumen, fending off every challenge.

Rüegg’s victory is historic on multiple fronts. Not only does it mark her first Women’s WorldTour stage race win, but it also establishes her as a rider to watch this season. Adding to her accolades, Rüegg secured the points classification jersey — a worthy testament to her consistency across all three stages.

What’s next?

With the 2025 Santos Women’s Tour Down Under now in the books, the Women’s WorldTour shifts its focus to the inaugural Schwalbe Women’s One-Day Classic, a high-speed 90-kilometer circuit race through the streets of Adelaide on January 26. Riders will compete for crucial UCI points as the season picks up momentum. This is just the beginning of an exciting season in women’s cycling.

Meanwhile, the men’s Santos Tour Down Under kicks off on Tuesday. It promises six days of intense racing, and big names like Jay Vine, Geraint Thomas, and Michael Woods are expected to shine. Fans of both tours can look forward to a January packed with world-class cycling.

Women’s Santos Tour Down Under results

GC

  1. Rüegg Noemi EF Education-Oatly 08:49:00
  2. Smulders Silke Liv AlUla Jayco + 13
  3. Ottestad Mie Bjørndal Uno-X Mobility + 37
  4. Wlodarczyk Dominika UAE Team ADQ + 40
  5. Chabbey Elise FDJ-SUEZ + 40
  6. Ghekiere Justine AG Insurance-Soudal Team + 41
  7. Spratt Amanda Lidl-Trek + 49
  8. Bradbury Neve CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto + 56
  9. Edwards Ruth Human Powered Health + 59
  10. Towers Alice CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto   + 1:02