OPENINGThe Women's WorldTour season opened in the Adelaide Hills with three hilly stages and barely any time gaps to start with, putting a premium on bonus seconds and a strong sprint on uphill finishes. Ally Wollaston (FDJ United-SUEZ) set the tone on Stage 1 around Willunga, catching long-range attacker Alessia Vigilia (Uno-X Mobility) inside the final 300 metres on Lower Willunga Hill to take both the stage and the ochre leader's jersey ahead of Josie Nelson and Femke Gerritse.

UNFOLDSStage 2 from Magill to Paracombe was raced at a ferocious tempo in extreme heat, with Visma, UAE Team ADQ and Fenix-Premier Tech all trying to force an early selection. A long solo move by Wilma Aintila was reeled in by an FDJ-led chase, and on the final climb defending champion Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) opened the sprint first — only for Wollaston to come past her in the last metres for a second straight win, extending her overall lead with Nelson again third.

DECIDEDEverything came down to Stage 3's double ascent of the Category 1 Corkscrew Road between Norwood and Campbelltown. A big early break by Carina Schrempf and Mikayla Harvey held nearly six minutes before being caught as the GC teams organised. The instant the road pitched up the first time, race leader Wollaston was dropped, ending her overall hopes and blowing the GC wide open.

FINALEA small group went clear over the climbs, and on the run-in UAE Team ADQ pinned Rüegg three-against-one with Mavi Garcia, Paula Blasi and Dominika Wlodarczyk. Rüegg — nursed back to the front earlier by teammate Magdeleine Vallières — followed every attack and refused to crack. The four reached Campbelltown together and, despite the numerical disadvantage, Rüegg produced the fastest sprint 500 m out to win the stage and the overall title, with Garcia and Blasi completing both the stage and the GC podium.