ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australian Simon Gerrans won cycling’s Tour Down Under by five seconds from compatriot Cadel Evans Sunday, becoming the first rider to win the ProTour event three times.
Andre Greipel of Germany won the sixth and final stage, over 18 laps of a 4.75 kilometer street circuit in downtown Adelaide, for the third straight year.
It was Greipel’s 16th career stage win on the season-opening tour.
Gerrans entered the 85.5 kilometer stage with a one second lead over Evans, the 2011 Tour de France-winner, and was able to extend that lead and add to his tour wins of 2006 and 2011.
Evans, who has set the Giro d’Italia as his main target this season, finished second and Italy’s Diego Ulissi third, both five seconds behind Gerrans.
