Australia’s Rohan Dennis takes a two-second lead into the final stage of the Tour Down Under today after fending off a stern challenge for the leader’s jersey from compatriot Richie Porte yesterday.
Porte started the 151.5km stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill in fifth place on general classification, 15 seconds behind Dennis and eight seconds behind second-placed Cadel Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion.
He drew away from Dennis on the tough climb up Old Willunga Hill to win the stage by nine seconds, but, despite time bonuses, was only able to close within two seconds of the tour lead.
Photo: EPA
Evans remains in third place, 20 seconds off the lead ahead of today’s 90km final stage around central Adelaide.
Porte won the Willunga Hill stage for the second year in a row, but for the first time since the summit finish was introduced in 2012, the tour lead did not change hands on the stage.
Dennis is now strongly placed to win the tour, as the lead seldom changes hands on the final stage.
“My team were in front all day with only a little bit of help,” Dennis said. “They were amazing.”
Dennis admitted he was concerned when he saw Porte launch his attack.
“I saw Cadel just got on his wheel,” he said. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t hold it. I was lucky enough to have some sort of a jump left. I jumped onto Richie’s wheel, but he was just powering away.”
Evans enters today’s final stage in third place overall, but 20 seconds off the lead in his last World Tour event.
“Full credit to Rohan. I gave it to him as hard as I could but it just wasn’t quite to be,” he said.
“This race is far from over,” he added. “It could still go down to the streets of Adelaide tomorrow.”
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