Tour Down Under set for thrilling Australia Day Finale

AUSTRALIA Day is set to witness a stunning Tour Down Under finale after Richie Porte won Stage 5 and Simon Gerrans reclaimed the ochre jersey from Cadel Evans by a narrow margin.

AUSTRALIA Day came early for thousands of screaming spectators at the Santos Tour Down Under yesterday as Richie Porte took out a stunning Stage 5 and Simon Gerrans reclaimed the ochre leader's jersey from Cadel Evans by the narrowest of margins.

The extraordinary all-Aussie finish sets the scene for an epic Australia Day climax to the Tour on Sunday with Gerrans set to win the event.

GreenEDGE rider Gerrans claimed the sprint jersey, Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) was King of the Mountain and Jack Haigh (Uni SA) took the young rider title on Saturday.

The only foreigner to gate crash the podium was German Jens Voigt (Trek) - at 42 the oldest cyclist in the field and a crowd favourite - who was warmly cheered when named the most competitive rider for the day after hanging in with the main breakaway.

Pictures from Day 5

Rohan Creed, Michael Krybolder, Steven Krybolder all from Warnambool. Photo: Sam Wundke.

Thousands of fans ringing cowbells and waving flags lined the 151.5km course that wound through the picturesque wine country of McLaren Vale and up the torturous Old Willunga Hill.

Excited fans arrived early to secure prime positions. They included Jasmin and Craig Sheldon, of Myrtle Bank, who slept overnight in the back of their ute - then set up a lounge suite to watch the race with their friend Caroline Wright and her daughter Angela, 12, of Tooperang.

"We love the atmosphere and excitement - it is a great day out," Jasmin said.

They were not disappointed as Porte set up a huge break on the final hill climb to claim the stage as Gerrans and Evans tussled it out for the ochre jersey, eventually finishing third and sixth respectively to give it to Gerrans.

Caroline Wright, Jasmin Sheldon and Angela Wright watched the TDU Stage 5 on a lounge. Photo: Sam Wundke.

Earlier, amid the carnival atmosphere, dozens of club and amateur cyclists tested themselves on the hill climb before the race proper started. amid a carnival atmosphere.

Barbecues and gourmet picnics were the order of the day.

The Matthews family, of Melbourne, arrived at 8am to claim a spot near the finish line. "This is our first time here - we follow the cycling and are fans of Cadel," Tanya Matthews said.

Plenty of other spectators were similarly patriotic.

The Tour Down Under Stage 5 at Willunga Hill. Photo: Sam Wundke.

They turned out with flags and hats, even chairs and tents with flag motifs.

Friends Tracey and Olivia Cooper, Karen and Dorothy Phillips and Maddison Trenwith, of Marion have seen every TDU. This year they watched through their bicycle-shaped sunglasses.

"We have come here every year since it started - it's a load of fun," Tracey said.

Richard and Margaret Blake, of Bellevue Heights, and friends Helen and Tony Palmer, of Unley Park, were among many who tucked into a picnic.

For Victorians Dianne Townsend, of Gippsland, and Margaret Gardner, of Ballarat, their regular trip to the event has sparked a new friendship while Sandro Gerace, Adam Rinaldi and Daniel Di Censi simply call themselves the Calabrians.

The terrific weather also proved a bonus for fans and racers alike and spectacular TV images beamed around the world showed the McLaren Vale region's wine country, beaches and farmland in a package that can only act as a huge tourism advertisement for beautiful South Australia.