Adelaide (Australia) (AFP)

Australian cyclist Richie Porte (Trek) won the Tour Down Under for the second time by taking second place in the 6th and final stage, Sunday at the top of Willunga Hill in the Adelaide region (Australia).

Sacred for the first time in 2017, Porte, 34, succeeds the South African Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott), winner of the two previous editions of this opening test of the WorldTour season.

Impey, who snatched first place at Porte for 2 seconds after the penultimate stage on Saturday, fell to sixth position, 30 seconds behind the Australian winner.

The Italian Diego Ulissi (UAE Emirates) and the German Simon Geschke (CCC) took second and third places respectively, 25 seconds from Porte.

"Winning this race once again is a great emotion," reacted the winner of Paris-Nice in 2013, a little disappointed nevertheless to have narrowly missed a second success in a row in the last stage. It was the Briton Matthew Holmes who won 3 seconds ahead of the Australian.

"In the end, we certainly didn't win the battle but we won the war," said Porte.

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), with his fourth place, is the best Frenchman of the stage. Clément Chevrier (AG2R La Mondiale), first French overall, finished 30th.

Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) finished 38th in his first race since the Tour de France which he finished in 15th place, consoling himself with the polka dot jersey.

Rankings at the end of the 6th and last stage of the Tour Down Under, 151.5 kilometers long between McLaren Vale and Willunga Hill:

Ranking of the 6th stage

1. Matthew Holmes (GBR / Lotto) in 3 h 24:54.

2. Richie Porte (AUS / Trek) at 3.

3. Manuele Boaro (ITA / Astana) 4.

4. Bruno Armirail (FRA / Groupama-FDJ) 7.

5. Michael Storer (AUS / Sunweb) 7.

6. Diego Ulissi (ITA / UAE Emirates) 7.

7. Simon Geschke (GER / CCC) 7.

8. Rohan Dennis (AUS / Ineos) 7.

9. Dylan van Baarle (NED / Ineos) 7.

10. Simon Yates (GBR / Mitchelton) 23.

Final general classification:

1. Richie Porte (AUS / Trek) 8:37:08 p.m.

2. Diego Ulissi (ITA / UAE Emirates) at 25.

3. Simon Geschke (GER / CCC) 25.

4. Rohan Dennis (AUS / Ineos) 25.

5. Dylan van Baarle (NED / Ineos) 25.

6. Daryl Impey (RSA / Mitchelton) 30.

7. Simon Yates (GBR / Mitchelton) 37.

8. George Bennett (NZL / Jumbo) 46.

9. Lucas Hamilton (AUS / Mitchelton) 52.

10. Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT / Bahrain) 54.

...

30. Clément Chevrier (AG2R La Mondiale) 1:57.

38. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) 3:39.

40. Kenny Elissonde (Trek) 4:11.

46. ​​Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) 4:58.

67. Axel Domont (AG2R La Mondiale) 11:49.

86. Mathias Le Turnier (Cofidis) 18:48.

97. Marc Sarreau (Groupama-FDJ) 21:23.

102. Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R La Mondiale) 23:06.

131. Mickaël Delage (Groupama-FDJ) 46:11.

© 2020 AFP