No movement ahead of Willunga test

Rohan Dennis and Dylan van Baarle maintained their top 10 positions overall after an eventful fifth stage of the Tour Down Under won by Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling).

Dennis, Van Baarle and Pavel Sivakov were all part of attacking moves which were covered by Mitchelton-Scott throughout the day as the Australian team were able to move Daryl Impey into the race lead at the expense of Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo).

Earlier, Ian Stannard was part of a dangerous breakaway that aimed to ruin the sprinters’ fun as he was joined by Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo), Josef Cerny (CCC) and Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) that led for a large portion of the stage, only to be caught on Kerby Hill.  

It was on this final climb where when pressure from the GC riders caused a split in the peloton and saw Dennis, Van Baarle and Sivakov go clear in an elite group of favourites who were only caught in the final kilometres. 

This allowed the sprinters’ teams to come to the fore and contest the stage in Victor Harbor, which was won by Nizzolo. 

Sivakov remains in the white jersey, while Impey moves into the race lead after claiming important bonus seconds during the stage .

The race will be deiced on the final stage, which features the climatic Willunga Hill climb, with a host of GC riders in contention.