Nina Buijsman marked her racing return in Human Powered Health colors finishing eighth on stage 2 of the Tour Down Under in Australia.
Sprinting on an uphill drag, the 28-year-old timed her effort to stay with the head of the pack for her first top WorldTour top ten of 2026. The result at the end of the 130.7 km stage from Magill to Paracombe means she goes into tomorrow’s final stage in tenth place on the general classification.
“It was really hot during the race so that made it extra hard,” explained Buijsman. “I narrowly missed a five rider group that attacked the lap before, but the girls and Clark gave me some extra motivation and trust. This really helped me.”
As expected, the peloton strung out immediately on the 9.9 km at 4.3% Ashton hill that climbed from the start of the stage, before much of the racing was punctuated by a lone breakaway.
With 1,896 meters of total elevation on a rolling parcours, energy conservation for the finish was key. A strong five-rider break did go clear in the final 10 km, but was reeled back in by the peloton, with Marit Raaijmakers protecting Buijsman’s position at the head of the action.
“Marit did a perfect job to help me to the front and stayed there until the last 700 meters,” said Buijsman. “Then i had a little explosion in the legs with 500 meters, so some girls passed me, but I found it back when I saw the finish line and tried to make the best of it.”
The final sprint was then launched, with Ally Wollaston (FDJ United – SUEZ) taking her second win in a row. Having placed 13th on stage 1, Buijsman now sits 24 seconds behind the race leader, Wollaston, alongside 17 other riders on the same time.
“I will give it all on the hard climb and then I will see at the finish what it will be for the GC,” ended Buijsman.”
Elsewhere, having fallen heavily on stage 1, Katia Ragusa stayed in hospital overnight but was in good spirits pending further checks and wound cleaning today. Initial examinations showed that she did not sustain any broken bones in the crash.
Tomorrow’s finale promises an exciting showdown. The peloton faces two ascents of the 2.5 km at 8.3% Corkscrew Road climb in the final 30 kilometers. The climb and its seven-kilometer descent into Campbelltown will be where the race is won and lost.
Santos Tour Down Under stage 2 results
1 WOLLASTON Ally – FDJ United – SUEZ 3:35:20
2 RÜEGG Noemi – EF Education-Oatly ”
3 NELSON Josie – Team Picnic PostNL ”
4 BLASI Paula – UAE Team ADQ ”
5 WŁODARCZYK Dominika – UAE Team ADQ ”
6 ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
7 MANLY Alexandra – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
8 BUIJSMAN Nina – Human Powered Health ”
9 VAN EYNDE Fien – Fenix-Premier Tech ”
10 GARCÍA Mavi – UAE Team ADQ ”
General Classification Santos Tour Down Under after two stages
1 WOLLASTON Ally – FDJ United – SUEZ 7:03:27
2 NELSON Josie – Team Picnic PostNL 0:14
3 RÜEGG Noemi – EF Education-Oatly 0:17
4 BARIL Olivia – Movistar Team 0:19
5 LACH Marta – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:22
6 VAN DAM Sarah – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:23
7 WŁODARCZYK Dominika – UAE Team ADQ 0:24
8 VAN EYNDE Fien – Fenix-Premier Tech ”
9 GARCÍA Mavi – UAE Team ADQ ”
10 BUIJSMAN Nina – Human Powered Health ”
Photos: GettySport
