TASMANIAN cycling superstar Richie Porte powered to his fourth-straight Willunga Hill stage win to ensure an historic Tour Down Under victory on Saturday.
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With one stage remaining, Porte, 31, holds an unassailable 48-second lead thanks largely to an almighty attack more than a kilometre from the summit to take out the South Australian race’s fifth and penultimate stage.
The BMC team leader entered the day with a 20-second advantage over Spaniard Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar), but Porte extended his stronghold by finishing the 152km stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga 20 seconds faster than compatriot Nathan Haas (Dimension Data).
Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) sits in second position ahead of Sunday's 90km last leg in Adelaide.
Given the Tour has historically been decided by one or two seconds, Porte's lead should be more than enough.
Campbell Town’s Will Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) was part of an early break away but the group of four were swallowed up before the final 3.5km climb to the finish. Fellow Tasmanian Nathan Earle (UniSA-Australia) is 10th overall, 66 seconds behind Porte.
Porte, who has finished runner-up the past two years, said the title was the prelude to greater sights – this year’s Tour de France.
"I tell you what, that hurt more than the other three I've won up here," Porte said.
"It was incredible teamwork today.
“This is not an easy climb – to win it is great for morale.
“That street circuit in Adelaide is not easy, anything can happen... I’m happy with where I am at the moment.
“I put some good time into the other guys and I think it will make tomorrow maybe a little more relaxed.
"For me, the biggest goal this year is July, the Tour de France, and things are going well."
Porte took the race lead with another devastating attack at Paracombe in the Adelaide Hills on Wednesday to win stage two in his first major event since he crashed out of the Rio Olympics road race five months ago.
He finished fifth in last year’s Tour de France.
TOP 10 | OVERALL
- Richie Porte 18:00:21
- Esteban Chaves +.48
- Nathan Hass +.51
- Jay McCarthy +.54
- Diego Ulissi +.59
- Rohan Dennis +1.02
- Rafael Valls +1.02
- Robert Gesink +1.02
- Wilco Keldermann +1.02
- Nathan Earle +1:06
- WITH AAP