Can Ireland's Sam Bennett get into the mix for stage victory on the final day at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide?
Richie Porte (BMC) has sealed his overall victory at the Tour Down Under with one stage remaining by taking the penultimate stage atop Willunga Hill.
The Australian was among a small select group that pulled clear not long after the day’s breakaway had been reeled in following the first of two passages of the climb.
And Porte simply waited until the strong men’s group was within 1.5km of the finish before he put in a stinging attack that blew everyone away.
He then rode solo to the top of the packed climb for stage victory; taking it by 20 seconds from compatriot Nathan Hass (Dimension Data).
Next was Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott), Diego Ulissi (UAE Abu Dhabi) and Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the same time as Hass and in that order.
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Porte battles his way through the crowds to victory at the top of the final climb. He also extended his overall lead.
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McCarthy, a team mate of Sam Bennett’s, will kick himself for being denied his very best shot today.
When Porte initially attacked he did so moments after McCarthy had narrowly avoided falling when he appeared to rub the wheel ahead of him; that of Sergio Henao (Team Sky).
And while he didn’t fall and quickly recovered, he was forced to unclip and lost momentum on the steep road just as Porte was making his move.
McCarthy is now 4th overall and he and his team will be hoping that Bennett and Peter Sagan can take a stage win tomorrow when the race completes the final stage criterium in Adelaide.
Stage 5: McLaren Vale - Willunga Hill (151.5km)
1 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 3:40:13
2 Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data 0:00:20
3 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott
4 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Team UAE Abu Dhabi
5 Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Nathan Earle (Aus) UniSA-Australia 0:00:23
7 Rafael Valls (Spa) Lotto Soudal
8 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Team Sky
9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
10 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac
11 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb
12 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team
13 Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:28
14 Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) FDJ 0:00:32
15 Jesus Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
114 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:14:48
General Classification
1 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 18:00:21
2 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott 0:00:48
3 Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data 0:00:51
4 Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:54
5 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Team UAE Abu Dhabi 0:00:59
6 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:02
7 Rafael Valls (Spa) Lotto Soudal
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
9 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb
10 Nathan Earle (Aus) UniSA-Australia 0:01:06
113 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:26:43
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