Richie Porte wins Stage 5 of the Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans loses Ochre jersey to Simon Gerrans

JUST one second separates Simon Gerrans and Cadel Evans ahead of the sixth and final stage of the TDU, which will be decided on Adelaide's street circuit on Sunday.

AUSTRALIAN Simon Gerrans tipped compatriot Richie Porte to win the gripping queen stage of the Tour Down Under but even the Orica GreenEDGE rider never imaged that just one second would separate he and Tour de France champion Cadel Evans going into the final stage to be decided on Sunday.

Replay our LIVE coverage of Stage 5 below and tune in from 12.30pm on Sunday.

A delighted Porte (Team Sky) set up his first victory of the Tour Down Under in the toughest stage of the race, attacking 2km from the finish to set up his solo victory in the arduous 151.5km test from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill.

GALLERY: Best pictures from Stage 5

"I felt great coming into today and the team has a plan and the boys were absolutely incredible all day,'' said Tasmanian Porte who is in fourth place overall, just 10 seconds behind new Tour leader Gerrans.

"It'll be all hands on deck tomorrow for the team and I'm sure we'll do all we can to protect the position I'm in.

"It's January, I'm not in top form yet but to win in Australia on this climb is a very special victory.''

News_Rich_Media: Australian Simon Gerrans takes the Tour Down Under lead off Cadel Evans with only the final leg of the tour remaining.

Gerrans' third place finish in the stage ahead of Evans in sixth place saw him vault over his rival to take back the tour lead by just one second.

Italian Deigo Ulissi is third, just five seconds behind Gerrans and also more than capable of turning Australia Day into a disaster for the locals if he wins the finale.

All up 19 seconds are up for grabs in the finale stage through intermediate sprints and finish positions.

"I always thought it would be right up his alley,'' said Gerrans of Porte after his win yesterday.

Orica GreenEDGE team director Matt White said after the fifth stage he is confident Gerrans will be standing on the top dais after Sunday's criterium.

"If Ulissi wants to roll the dice and go for the sprints we certainly have him covered,'' White said.

"He (Evans) won't be contesting the intermediate sprints. We have him covered in those sprints.''

Replay our LIVE coverage of Stage 5 below

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