Tour Down Under 2017: Porte wins for fourth time on Willunga Hill and cements lead

Richie Porte takes the 5th stage in the Tour Down Under - a classic race to Willunga Hill - for the fourth time in a row. He soloes to victory to cements his overall lead to almost 1 minute. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2017 Tour Down Under

1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Nathan Haas (aus) + 0.20
3. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
4. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
5. Jay McCarthy (aus) s.t.
6. Nathan Earle (aus) + 0.23
7. Rafael Valls (spa) s.t.
8. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
9. Robert Gesink (nld) s.t.
10. Tom-Jelte Slagter (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 5
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.48
3. Nathan Haas (aus) + 0.51
4. Jay McCarthy (aus) + 0.54
5. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.59
6. Rohan Dennis (aus) + 1.02
7. Rafael Valls (spa) s.t.
8. Robert Gesink (nld) s.t.
9. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
10. Nathan Earle (aus) + 1.06

Race report
The break away takes shape when Will Clarke, Thomas De Gendt, Jeremy Maison and Jack Bauer. They race to a maximum lead at almost 3 minutes, but the the gap hovers mostly around 2 minutes.

On the first climb up Willunga Hill Clarke is dropped and a little later Chris Hamilton and Giovanni Visconti try to bridhe tha gap. Yet to no avail. With 6 kms to go the three leaders were caught by a reduced peloton.

When hitting the closing climb Izaguirre, second overall, finds himself quickly going backwards, while Sebastian Heano launches an attack. At first nobody reacts. Then leader Porte jumps out of the saddle to take in Henao. He doesn't falter and pushes on to solo to the line, adding even more seconds to his his already massive lead.