Tour Down Under 2020, stage four – full results and standings: Caleb Ewan out-sprints Sam Bennett for victory but Richie Porte retains overall lead
Caleb Ewan out-sprinted Ireland's Sam Bennett to win the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under, but Richie Porte retains the overall lead.
Ewan, who also won the second stage, had stronger legs than first stage-winner Bennett at the end of a testing 152.8km (95 mile) ride from Norwood to Murray Bridge.
The stage featured a technical finish with a sudden narrowing of the road compressing the peloton and making it essential teams had their sprinters at the front of the bunch. There was then a very tight left-hand bend 300 metres from the finish, before the sprinters could unleash their winning bids.
Bennett went first and broke away from the bunch but Ewan mowed him down to win by almost a bike length. Jasper Philipsen was third and German veteran Andre Greipel, winner of a record 18 stages on the Tour Down Under, was fourth.
Porte managed to stay with the leading bunch to defend the tour leader's jersey, though his overall lead over two-time defending champion Daryl Impey was halved from six to three seconds. Impey picked up time bonuses on the course to cut into Porte's lead with two stages remaining, including the famous climb to the top of Wilunga Hill.
The Tour Down Under continues on Saturday with the 149.1km fifth stage from Glenelg to Victor Harbor and concludes on Sunday on Willunga Hill.
