Australia's Richie Porte wins his first Tour Down Under
Last Updated: 22/01/17 8:46am
Australia's Richie Porte won his first Tour Down Under after finishing safely in the peloton on the final 90-kilometre stage through the streets of Adelaide.
The 31-year-old, who seized the ochre leader's jersey after the third stage, led the race from that point on and virtually assured himself of the title when he won his second stage on Saturday.
Porte took a lead of 48 seconds over Colombia's Esteban Chaves into the final stage and his BMC Racing team controlled the peloton throughout, ensuring there was no chance of a breakaway spoiling Porte's party.
The stage, 20 laps of an Adelaide street circuit, was won by Australia's Caleb Ewan in a mass sprint, with world champion Peter Sagan of Slovakia finishing second and Slovenia's Marko Kump third.
It was Ewan's fourth stage win of the week and confirmed his position as one of the rising stars of world sprinting.
However, the day belonged to Porte, who had finished second at the season-opening event the previous two years.
He never looked like losing once he rode away from the field on the climb into Paracombe on Wednesday and then underlined his dominance when he did the same to win at the top of Willunga Hill on Saturday.
"The Tour Down Under was good for me this year, two hilltop finishes," Porte said. "It's just incredible to come here and win after being so close the past two years.
"After crashing in Rio and injuring myself quite nastily (where Porte broke his scapula) it wasn't too hard to be motivated for this race.
"I had a good break at the end of last season and have come back refreshed physically and mentally. To win this race means a hell of a lot."
Stage Six (90km):
1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica1hr 55 min 28 sec
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora s.t.
3. Marko Kump (Slo) Abu Dhabi s.t.
4. Danny van Poppell (Ned) Team Sky) s.t.
5. Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto s.t.
6. Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ s.t.
7. Koen de Kort (Ned) Trek s.t.
8. Jasha Sutterlin (Ger) Movistar s.t.
9. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data s.t.
10. Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora s.t.
Overall Standings:
1. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing 19hr 55min 49sec
2. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica at 48 seconds
3. Jay McCarthy (Aus) Bora +51
4. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data s.t.
5. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Abu Dhabi +59
6. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing +1.02
7. Rafael Valls (Esp) Lotto s.t.
8. Robert Gesink (Ned) Lotto s.t.
9. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb s.t.
10. Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Katusha-Alpecin +1:04
