2025 Santos Tour Down Under

Noemi Ruegg Wins Uphill Finish To Lead Tour Down Under 2025

Noemi Ruegg Wins Uphill Finish To Lead Tour Down Under 2025

Noemi Ruegg wins the second stage of the women’s Tour Down Under on Willunga Hill, taking the ochre jersey and leading Silke Smulders by 15 seconds overall.

Jan 18, 2025 by AFP Report
How Rüegg Took Over The Tour Down Under

Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatly) delivered a stunning performance on Saturday, conquering Willunga Hill to win the second stage of the women’s Tour Down Under and claim the coveted leader’s ochre jersey.


 The 23-year-old Swiss rider surged ahead of Dutch competitor Silke Smulders (Liv Jayco AlUla) during the final climb, securing a decisive victory in the 115km stage in scorching conditions.

Ruegg's Climactic Attack

The grueling 3.2km ascent up Willunga Hill saw no clear leader until Ruegg launched her attack, bringing Smulders with her. In the final moments, Ruegg powered ahead, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Smulders, with Norway’s Mie Bjorndal Ottestad (Uno-X Mobility) crossing the line 26 seconds later in third.

“This win really means a lot. I know I'm strong, but I always struggle a bit with my confidence,” Ruegg said. “I really need a team that supports me and gives me the belief in myself.”

Shake-Up In The GC

Ruegg now leads the general classification by 15 seconds over Smulders heading into Sunday’s climactic stage in the Adelaide Hills, which is another opportunity for climbers to shine. This marks Ruegg's first UCI World Tour victory, building on her earlier career success at the Trofeo Felanitx-Colonia de Sant Jordi last year.

The stage also made history as the first in the Tour Down Under to include two ascents of Willunga Hill. New Zealander Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl Trek) claimed the first Queen of the Mountain climb but faded on the second ascent. Meanwhile, overnight leader Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit-WNT) fell behind during the first climb, dropping to 33rd overall and out of contention.