Davis not celebrating yet

Australian Allan Davis is not claiming a Tour Down Under event victory despite winning the race's crucial fifth stage at Willunga, in Adelaide's south yesterday. It was thought the stage would open up the competition to the stronger mountain climbers but the ochre-jersey holder stayed in touch during the two treks up the three-kilometre Willunga Hill.

He then led the peloton home to win his third stage this year and take a 25-second buffer into tomorrow's finale. Davis will need only to complete the Tour's street circuit without incident to win overall but the Quick Step rider isn't ready to celebrate just yet. "This race isn't over yet until we cross the line. In cycling anything can happen," Davis said. Lance Armstrong continued his solid but unspectacular comeback by finishing in the peloton - officially in 23rd. The Texan is now 29th in the general classification and 49secs off the lead.

Earlier in the race, it did not take long for a group of eight riders, including UniSA's Travis Meyer and Jack Bobridge to break away. At the 17-kilometre mark they started to build a lead and led by close to three minutes 63km later. But from that point onwards the gap closed. Breakaway group members Serguei Klimov (Team Katusha) and Bobridge - who was named the stage's most aggressive rider - tried to do it on their own but by they were reined in by a 10-rider chase pack that included Armstrong before the second climb of Willunga Hill.

With eight kilometres to go it was the peloton leading the charge and from that emerged Davis, who punched the air in celebration after crossing the line first. * PA Sport