ILLUNGA – Australian Cameron Meyer retained the overall lead at the Tour Down Under after Spaniard Francisco Ventoso won the fifth stage on Saturday. Movistar rider Ventoso caught the top sprinters snoozing as he launched his attack far from the finish line of the 131-km stage to beat Australians Michael Matthews and Matthew Goss.
Sprinter Goss, second overall and eight seconds adrift of Garmin-Cervelo’s Meyer, will be the favourite to snatch the overall win in Sunday’s sixth and final stage which features two intermediate sprints with six-second bonuses. However, Meyer will not give up the lead without a scrap.
“I keep this orange jersey thanks to my team mates’ work and I hope to keep it in Adelaide. Fingers crossed,” he told reporters. “I know that our team sprinter, Tyler Farrar, will do his best to get as many time bonuses as possible.”
American Lance Armstrong had yet another quiet day on his farewell ride, finishing in 66th place 5:44 behind Ventoso. The seven-times Tour de France champion, who was hit by fresh doping allegations earlier this week, is riding his last race outside the US Sunday’s final stage is a 90-km loop in and around Adelaide.
