Deignan’s solid Sky debut

Ireland’s Philip Deignan enjoyed a good competitive racing debut with Team Sky, helping teammates Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas finish fourth and eighth in the Santos Tour Down Under yesterday.

The Donegal man finished just behind the main bunch on yesterday’s final stage — won by German sprinter Andre Greipel — in Adelaide, and was 45th overall.

“It’s been a good week just to learn how the team operates, it’s different to any other team I’ve been on, the way the group works together,” he said.

Simon Gerrans won the race.