Richie Porte and Daryl Impey set for final-stage battle

Richie Porte claimed his fifth consecutive win on Willunga Hill but it was Daryl Impey who took over as the new leader of the Tour Down Under after Saturday’s queen stage.

BMC’s Porte – who won on the famed climb 12 months ago to set up his overall victory in the race – produced a strong attack on the second ascent of the hill to distance Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Egan Bernal (Team Sky).

But a late move from Mitchelton-Scott’s Impey saw him give up only eight seconds to Porte, after bonus seconds were applied, putting the South African in the leader’s ochre jersey as he took over from world champion Peter Sagan.

Impey is on the same time as the Tasmanian Porte, with the pair 16 seconds ahead of Dimension Data’s Tom Jelte Slagter, who took third place on the day.

The 151.5km stage from McLaren Vale took the peloton on three laps of a city circuit before two ascents of Willunga Hill, which is three kilometres in length at an average gradient of 7.5%.

With nothing separating the leading duo, there will be a fight for the overall victory on Sunday’s final stage, a 90km race around the streets of Adelaide.