Reports

Tour Down Under 2016: Richie Porte wins on Willunga Hill again

Simon Gerrans closes in on victory after holding race lead

Richie Porte won on Willunga Hill for the third consecutive year at the Tour Down Under, but Simon Gerrans is poised to win overall after holding the ochre jersey on stage five.

Porte’s acceleration on the second ascent of Willunga Hill was enough to seal his first victory in BMC Racing colours, having won on his previous two appearances with Team Sky, but once again it was not enough to overhaul Gerrans’ lead.

Richie Porte won on Willunga Hill for the third consecutive year (pic: Sirotti)

Three-time champion Gerrans, winner of both stages three and four, finished eighth on the day – 17 seconds in arrears – and leads Porte by nine seconds overall.

Four men had earlier forged clear to form the day’s break, with Lars Boom (Astana), Pim Ligthart (Lotto-Soudal), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) earning some air time.

Ligthart started the stage within two minutes of Gerrans overall, and rolled through both intermediate sprints in first place, but Orica-GreenEDGE were happy to watch the break build a healthy lead.

The advantage stood at six minutes at one point, though contributions from Cannondale, Tinkoff, BMC Racing and Ag2r-La Mondiale had all helped to bring that down to 2’30” on the first passage of Willunga Hill.

Janse van Rensburg crested the climb in first place but was rejoined by his breakaway companions on the descent as their lead gradually ebbed away on the final lap.

The four were caught before the final ascent started, and Team Sky immediately set about making Sergio Henao’s rivals suffer on the road.

British champion Peter Kennaugh drive the early pace before Geraint Thomas took over, with Orica-GreenEDGE protecting Gerrans just behind.

Simon Clarke (Cannondale) and Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing) launched attacks earlier on the climb, but it quickly became clear Dennis’ move was a foil for Porte.

And indeed his new team-mate took up the mantle with 1.2km to go, surging clear with only Henao and Michael Woods (Cannondale) able to respond.

Nobody knows this climb better than Porte though, and when he accelerated again it was clear nothing could stop him earning a hat-trick of wins on Willunga.

Simon Gerrans held onto the ochre jersey, and now holds a nine second advantage ahead of the final stage (pic: Sirotti)

Henao finished second, and sealed the King of the Mountains jersey in the process, but all eyes were on the clock and Gerrans.

With plenty of time to spare, however, the race leader crossed in a 13-man group at 17 seconds, meaning only disaster on stage six will deny Gerrans a fourth career ochre jersey.

Tour Down Under 2016: stage five – result

1) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing – 3.34.16hrs
2) Sergio Henao (COL) – Team Sky +6”
3) Michael Woods (CAN) – Cannondale +9”
4) Diego Ulissi (ITA) – Lampre-Merida +17”
5) Rafael Valls (ESP) – Lotto-Soudal – ST
6) Ruben Fernandez (ESP) – Movistar
7) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
8) Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE
9) Jarlinson Pantano (COL) – IAM Cycling
10) Patrick Bevin (NZL) – Cannondale

General classification

1) Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – 17.16.31hrs
2) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing +9”
3) Sergio Henao (COL) – Team Sky +11”
4) Jay McCarthy (AUS) – Tinkoff +20”
5) Michael Woods (CAN) – Cannondale – ST
6) Ruben Fernandez (ESP) – Movistar +28”
7) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – ST
8) Rafael Valls (ESP) – Lotto-Soudal +36”
9) Steve Morabito (SUI) – FDJ +49”
10) Patrick Bevin (NZL) – Cannondale +50”