2012 Tour Down Under#Stage 5

As the Tour Down Under was a UCI World Tour event, all 18 UCI ProTeams were invited automatically and obligated to send a squad. Together with a selection of Australian riders forming the UniSA-Australia squad, this formed the event's 19-team peloton.

The 19 teams invited to the race were:

The route for the race was announced on 13 June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-tour-down-under-route-announced|title=2012 Tour Down Under route announced|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=13 June 2011|accessdate=31 December 2011}}

;17 January 2012 — Prospect to Clare, {{convert|149.3|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-1|title=Stage 1 Preview|date=14 June 2011|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122025220/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-1|archive-date=22 November 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

A quartet of riders – UniSA-Australia's Rohan Dennis, {{UCI team code|VCD|2012}} rider Marcello Pavarin, Martin Kohler of {{UCI team code|BMC|2012}} and {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}'s Eduard Vorganov – made the early breakaway from the field, and managed to extend their advantage over the main field to in excess of eleven minutes at one point during the stage, which was run in conditions of {{convert|40|C}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120117-stage1.asp|title=Extreme day out but UniSA inspires|work=Team UniSA|publisher=University of South Australia|date=17 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805173427/http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120117-stage1.asp|archive-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} As such, the riders between them managed to take all sub-classification points on offer during the stage, at both of the intermediate sprints and the single categorised climb at Taylers Run. Their advantage out front dwindled quickly as the peloton – led by {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}, {{UCI team code|LTB|2012}} and {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} – gathered pace, taking three minutes from the quartet over {{convert|20|km|1|abbr=on}}, leaving them with just 90 seconds of a lead out front. {{UCI team code|LTB|2012|nolink=yes}} lost their attacking impetus at that point after Greg Henderson, one of the lead-out men for André Greipel, crashed and could not recover back to the main field.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6272996/Greipel-wins-Tour-stage-Henderson-crashes|title=Greipel wins Tour stage; Henderson crashes|work=Stuff|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=18 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|agency=Reuters}}

With the field closing yet further, Dennis made a solo bid for victory from {{convert|15|km|1|abbr=on}} out and was clear by around a minute before eventually being caught several kilometres later, towards the run-in to Clare. After Dennis' team-mate Will Clarke had been closed down after a late counter-attack, the field set up for a bunch sprint into Clare. In the final kilometre, a crash involving numerous riders split the field, with many hitting the ground. Three riders – {{UCI team code|LTB|2012}}'s Jürgen Roelandts, {{UCI team code|ALM|2012}}'s Matteo Montaguti and {{UCI team code|FDJ|2012}} rider Frédéric Guesdon – were taken to hospital, along with a spectator who was hit by a rider during the incident.{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/cycling-crash-causes-tour-chaos-20120117-1q4fj.html|title=Cycling crash causes Tour chaos|first=Roger|last=Vaughan|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=17 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|agency=Australian Associated Press}} Greipel was slightly delayed on the run-in but managed to bridge back to the front and managed to out-sprint Alessandro Petacchi ({{UCI team code|LAM|2012}}) to the line, and achieved his ninth stage win at the Tour to take the race's first ochre jersey.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/down-to-business-at-santos-tour-down-under/story-e6frep5o-1226246253805|title=Andre Greipel turns up the heat in Stage 1 of Tour Down Under|work=The Courier-Mail|publisher=Queensland Newspapers|first=Val|last=Migliaccio|date=17 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012}} Petacchi finished second, despite being reviewed by race commissaires, after Greipel complained over Petacchi's tactics in the closing stages,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-1/results|first=Alex|last=Hinds|title=Greipel goes two-straight with photo finish win over Petacchi in Clare|date=17 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123232538/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-1/results|archive-date=2014-01-23|url-status=dead}} with Yauheni Hutarovich picking up the remaining bonus seconds on the line for {{UCI team code|FDJ|2012|nolink=yes}}, finishing third. Greipel was the first leader of the sprints classification, Dennis held the lead of the youth classification, Pavarin held the mountains jersey after leading over the only climb of the day and Vorganov was named most combative rider for the stage.

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|General Classification after Stage 1

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;18 January 2012 — Lobethal to Stirling, {{convert|148|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-2|title=Stage 2 Preview|date=14 June 2011|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122031221/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-2|archive-date=22 November 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Just as he had done the previous day, Martin Kohler of {{UCI team code|BMC|2012}} made it into the race's primary breakaway of the day, and was joined again by a rider from the UniSA-Australia team, with Will Clarke – fresh from a late-stage attack the previous day – joining Kohler out front. Clarke and Kohler remained together for just over {{convert|60|km|1|abbr=on}}, with Clarke taking maximum points in the categorised climb at Lenswood,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tour-down-under-stage-2/story-e6frf9if-1226247850744|first=Jai|last=Bednall|title=Breakaway Aussie William Clarke hangs on for great win|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times}} while Kohler twice bested Clarke at the intermediate sprints during the early running, and with the bonus seconds, it allowed him to move into the virtual lead of the race, as he was only four seconds behind race leader André Greipel ({{UCI team code|LTB|2012}}) overnight.{{cite news|url=http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid=575477.html|title=William Clarke wins 2nd stage of Tour Down Under|date=18 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Universal Sports|publisher=InterMedia Partners|agency=Associated Press}} The pair extended their advantage over the peloton to eleven minutes, before Kohler sat up and elected to return to the main field.

File:Will Clarke 2012 Tour Down Under.jpg rider Will Clarke achieved the first victory of his professional career after being at the head of the race for all bar one of the stage's {{convert|148|km|1|abbr=on}}.]]

After Clarke had been left on his own, the advantage dropped slightly to around eight minutes but after he had steadied himself for a solo escape, the gap to the main field grew once again. The gap was largely held around the ten-minute mark by the peloton, but extended out to over twelve minutes at one point,{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/clarke-wins-high-praise-20120118-1q6jx.html|first=Rupert|last=Guinness|title=Clarke wins high praise|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media}} and by the time Clarke entered the finishing circuit, {{convert|21.6|km|1|abbr=on}} in length, at Stirling for the first of three laps, it was back around ten and a half minutes. Several teams – including {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}, {{UCI team code|RAB|2012}} and {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} – comprising many of the general classification contenders for the Tour, brought their riders towards the front of the main pack in order to try to get the gap to Clarke down to a sustainable level in order to catch him. Clarke remained ten minutes clear as he entered the second lap of the circuit and despite the panic that had set in to the teams in the peloton, he maintained a sufficient amount of energy to continue holding them off.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-2/results|first=Alex|last=Hinds|title=Tour Down Under turns upside down on brilliant day for UniSA's Clarke|date=18 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123234009/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-2/results|archive-date=2014-01-23|url-status=dead}}

He entered the final lap clear by nine minutes, but was tiring dramatically as the fatigue began to set in after his lengthy exploits off the front of the field. He lost almost five minutes in the first half of the final circuit, but Clarke steadied himself and still held a three-minute lead with {{convert|5|km|1|abbr=on}} to go. He held on to the end of the lap and ended up taking the first victory of his professional career,{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18012012/2/cycling-clarke-claims-solo-win-tour-under-stage.html|title=Tour Down Under turns upside down on brilliant day for UniSA's Clarke|date=18 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|agency=Reuters}} and honours for most combative rider of the day. The main pack was led over the line by {{UCI team code|RAB|2012|nolink=yes}} rider Michael Matthews but 62 seconds in arrears, while {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a|nolink=yes}}'s Simon Gerrans completed a 1–2–3 for Australian riders on the day, just ahead of Alejandro Valverde ({{UCI team code|MOV|2012}}). Kohler managed to finish within the pack to take his first race leader's jersey, while Clarke became the leader in the sprints and mountains classifications, and Matthews moved into the black jersey for youth leader in third place overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19700|title=2012 Santos Tour Down Under – Stage 2 Results|date=18 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Daily Peloton.com|publisher=Daily Peloton|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731075030/http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19700|archive-date=31 July 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

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|General Classification after Stage 2

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;19 January 2012 — Unley to Victor Harbor, {{convert|134.5|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-3|title=Stage 3 Preview|date=14 June 2011|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122025350/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-3|archive-date=22 November 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

File:Stage 3 breakaway 2012 Tour Down Under.jpg. Thomas De Gendt leads Jan Bakelants, Eduard Vorganov and Matt Brammeier.]]

Just like on stage one, a breakaway quartet – {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}'s Jan Bakelants, {{UCI team code|VCD|2012}} rider Thomas De Gendt, Matt Brammeier of {{UCI team code|OPQ|2012}} and {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}'s Eduard Vorganov – advanced clear of the main field, and managed to extend their advantage to a maximum of around five-and-a-half minutes at one point during the stage, far less than what the pack gave away to Will Clarke the previous day.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19705|title=2012 Santos Tour Down Under – Stage 3|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Daily Peloton.com|publisher=Daily Peloton|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121075331/http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19705|archive-date=21 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} De Gendt earned maximum points during the stage, as he crossed the single categorised climb at Sellicks Hill ahead of his companions, and also crossed the line first at both of the intermediate sprints, gaining six seconds towards the general classification. Brammeier tried to break clear after their advantage was hurriedly reduced, but the field were back as a whole, with {{convert|40|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/story/2012-01-19/third-stage-tour-down-under/52675082/1|title=Andre Greipel wins stage, leads Tour Down Under|work=USA Today|publisher=David Hunke; Gannett Company|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|agency=Associated Press}} With the field back together, several teams took turns on the front of the main field in order to try and break riders from the comfort of the peloton.

{{UCI team code|RAB|2012}}, {{UCI team code|BMC|2012}} and {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} did most of the work on the front as they pushed speeds to around {{convert|55|km/h|0|abbr=on}},{{cite news|url=http://www.greenedgecycling.com/node/228|title=Robbie McEwen Sprints to Fifth in Victor Harbor; Simon Gerrans Fifth Overall|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work={{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}}|publisher=GreenEDGE Cycling Team}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} prior to the finish in Victor Harbor. With all mini-attacks closed down in the closing stages, it was left to another bunch sprint for the bonus seconds on offer at the line to the top three finishers. {{UCI team code|RAB|2012|nolink=yes}} had looked to set up Michael Matthews for victory and a potential ochre jersey, but could not find clear space to attack, and it was left to Mark Renshaw to lead out the sprint to the line. However, André Greipel ({{UCI team code|LTB|2012}}) came around him in the final metres, and thus picked up his second stage win of the week, and his tenth career victory at the Tour Down Under; with the bonus seconds, it allowed him to retake the ochre jersey from Martin Kohler ({{UCI team code|BMC|2012|nolink=yes}}).{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-3/results|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|title=Greipel closes in on Tour Down Under record with Victor Harbour win|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=24 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125080656/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-3/results|archive-date=2014-01-25|url-status=dead}} Yauheni Hutarovich finished second for {{UCI team code|FDJ|2012}}, while {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}} rider Edvald Boasson Hagen finished a bike length behind in third place, ahead of Renshaw. Greipel also regained the lead of the sprints classification, Matthews maintained the lead of the youth classification, and De Gendt took both the mountains jersey and the most combative rider honours for the stage.

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|General Classification after Stage 3

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;20 January 2012 — Norwood to Tanunda, {{convert|130|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-4|title=Stage 4 Preview|date=14 June 2011|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115152214/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-4|archive-date=15 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

File:Oscar Freire 2012.jpg, pictured before stage 2, achieved his first victory for {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}, after moving from {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}} over the off-season.]]

Mini-attacks set the course for the early running of the stage as the field remained as one prior to the first intermediate sprint of the day, coming after {{convert|25.3|km|1|abbr=on}}, in the town of Kersbrook.{{cite news|url=http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/news/show/santos-tour-down-under-stage-4-preview/50|title=Santos Tour Down Under Stage 4 Preview|work={{UCI team code|OPQ|2012}}|publisher=Decolef|date=19 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905055612/http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/news/show/santos-tour-down-under-stage-4-preview/50|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Ochre jersey wearer André Greipel, of {{UCI team code|LTB|2012}}, reached the line first, to extend his virtual lead in the general classification to eleven seconds, while {{UCI team code|RAB|2012}}'s Michael Matthews inched closer to second-placed Martin Kohler ({{UCI team code|BMC|2012}}), by placing second at the sprint.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-4/results |first=Jane |last=Aubrey |title=Freire back in the winner's circle with Tour Down Under victory |date=20 January 2012 |accessdate=25 January 2012 |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121210053/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-4/results |archivedate=21 January 2012 }} It was not until after the intermediate sprint that the stage's primary breakaway had been formed. Three riders – UniSA-Australia's Jay McCarthy, Rubén Pérez of {{UCI team code|EUS|2012}} and {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}'s Gatis Smukulis – originally managed to breach the confines of the field, and were later joined by a fourth rider, {{UCI team code|ALM|2012}}'s Blel Kadri to maintain their bid of extending an advantage over the bunch. Their advantage rarely threatened the main field however, as the peak gap that the four riders out front had, was just over four minutes.

Smukulis quickly dropped back and left his three companions to make the pace out front.{{cite news|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/freire-flashes-home-in-tanunda.htm|title=Freire flashes home in Tanunda|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|date=20 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121180311/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/freire-flashes-home-in-tanunda.htm|archive-date=21 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} provided the pace in the peloton, and with that speed, it allowed the field to catch the trio out front with around {{convert|30|km|1|abbr=on}} left to run of the parcours, and prior to the final climb of the day at Mengler Hill. With {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a|nolink=yes}} and {{UCI team code|MOV|2012}} still pressurising the field as they were on the climb itself, many riders became dislodged at the back of the peloton due to their nature of the attack. Among those that fell from the comfort zone were race leader Greipel and {{UCI team code|VCD|2012}}'s Thomas De Gendt,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/simon-gerrans-in-perfect-position-to-win-the-tour-down-under/story-e6frfglf-1226249910284|title=Simon Gerrans in perfect position to win the Tour Down Under|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times|first=Reece|last=Homfray|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012}} who had been in fourth place overall prior to the stage; {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a|nolink=yes}} sporting director Matt White later stated that their aim for the stage was to remove Greipel from the race equation. UniSA-Australia rider Rohan Dennis led over the hill, to take the 16 points on offer for first place, while Greipel lost more than seven minutes by stage's end.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/a-third-tour-down-under-appears-beyond-andre-greipel/story-e6frg7mf-1226249627817|title=A third Tour Down Under appears beyond Andre Greipel|work=The Australian|publisher=News Limited|first=Peter|last=Kogoy|date=20 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012}}

Just 48 riders of the 131 who started the stage remained as one to contest the finish in Tanunda.{{cite news|url=http://www.katushateam.com/2012/eng/main.php?mod=news&n=1196|title=Freire brings to Katusha the first victory of 2012|work={{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}|publisher=Katusha Management SA|date=20 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012}} At the finish, it was {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}} that featured most prominently, and after a four-man leadout, it was Óscar Freire who advanced down the left-hand side of the road in the closing stages, and gained {{UCI team code|KAT|2012|nolink=yes}} their first win of the season, and his first since the 2011 Ruta del Sol for {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}. Gerald Ciolek finished second on the stage for {{UCI team code|OPQ|2012}}, which like Freire, moved him into the top five of the overall classification, which was led once again by Kohler after he was part of the 48 riders that were in contention. Daniele Bennati finished third for {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}, and the bonus seconds he earned also advanced his position, into sixth overall. After finishing just behind Bennati, {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}'s Edvald Boasson Hagen replaced Greipel as leader of the sprints classification, Matthews held the lead of the youth classification once again, Dennis earned the mountains jersey after earning maximum points on the final climb and Kadri was named most combative rider for the stage.

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|General Classification after Stage 4

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;21 January 2012 — McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill, {{convert|151.5|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-5|title=Stage 5 Preview|date=14 June 2011|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116130531/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-5|archive-date=16 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

The race's queen stage had an added twist for its 2012 running, with the implementation of Old Willunga Hill – a {{convert|3|km|1|abbr=on}} climb at an average gradient of 7.6%{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/blazin-saddles/saddles-down-under-140132908.html|title=Saddles Down Under|date=13 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group}} – as a summit finish for the first time.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/climbs-tp-toughen-tour-down-under/story-fn8sc2wz-1226074240419|title=Climbs to toughen Tour Down Under|work=The Australian|publisher=News Limited|first=Peter|last=Kogoy|date=13 June 2011|accessdate=25 January 2012}} Again like the previous day, much of the early running of the stage was resorted to mini-attacks prior to the formation of the day's breakaway. The stage saw a breakaway of six riders, as they quickly went clear of the main field; home riders Stuart O'Grady ({{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}}) and Nathan Haas ({{UCI team code|GRM|2012a}}) were joined by {{UCI team code|SAX|2012a}}'s Takashi Miyazawa, {{UCI team code|OPQ|2012}} rider Andrew Fenn, Kristof Goddaert of {{UCI team code|ALM|2012}}, and the highest-placed rider of the six, {{UCI team code|VCD|2012}}'s Thomas De Gendt.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-5/results |first=Alex |last=Hinds |title=Comeback complete for Valverde as Spaniard out sprints Gerrans on Willunga |date=21 January 2012 |accessdate=25 January 2012 |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125200455/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-5/results |archivedate=25 January 2012 }} Their peak advantage of eight minutes over the peloton just about covered themselves in the case that they managed to hold their advantage to the end, as De Gendt trailed Martin Kohler, the race leader for the {{UCI team code|BMC|2012}}, by 7' 51" overnight.

With strong cross-winds during the stages, several teams – mainly {{UCI team code|BMC|2012|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|LTB|2012}} and {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}} – looked to create a split in the field via an echelon, which was ultimately successful as the increased pace managed to shed some thirty riders from the back of the peloton, including {{UCI team code|LAM|2012}}'s Matthew Lloyd for a short period of time; also reduced was the advantage to the sextet out front, cutting their gap from over eight minutes down to the three-minute mark. Goddaert dropped away from the front prior to the first climb of Old Willunga Hill, where Haas attacked and achieved maximum points for the climb; from there, he continued his pace onto the descent.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haas-finds-only-positives-in-willunga-escape|title=Haas finds only positives in Willunga escape|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012}} He was chased by De Gendt, whereas O'Grady dropped back in order to help with his team's challenge in the expectation of putting one of their riders into the ochre jersey. Third over the line was Rohan Dennis for UniSA-Australia, to maintain his lead in the mountains classification ahead of De Gendt.{{cite news|url=http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120121-stage5.asp|title=Dennis stars again at Willunga|work=Team UniSA|publisher=University of South Australia|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805201233/http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120121-stage5.asp|archive-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Haas was caught prior to the second and final climb of Old Willunga Hill; he was caught with around {{convert|10|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining of the stage by a far reduced lead group.

{{UCI team code|MOV|2012}}, {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}} and {{UCI team code|RNT|2012|nolink=yes}} featured prominently in the lead group with several riders from each team looking for a potential stage win and with many riders within a number of seconds of the overall leader, the chance of taking the leader's ochre jersey into the final criterium stage in Adelaide. One rider from each of the prominent teams joined Dennis in a quick break at the foot of the climb, however it was left to Dennis and Tiago Machado ({{UCI team code|RNT|2012|nolink=yes}}) to set the pace ahead of the quickly closing peloton.{{cite news|url=http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/machado-makes-his-move-team-impressive|title=Machado Makes his Move – Team Impressive|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|work={{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}|publisher=Leopard S.A.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521211816/http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/machado-makes-his-move-team-impressive|archive-date=21 May 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} They were caught in the closing stages, which prompted Michael Rogers to launch an attack for {{UCI team code|SKY|2012|nolink=yes}}, but was quickly usurped by {{UCI team code|MOV|2012|nolink=yes}}'s Alejandro Valverde, in his first race back from a doping ban, and the recently crowned national champion of Australia, {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a|nolink=yes}}'s Simon Gerrans. Valverde and Gerrans contested a two-man sprint for the line which Valverde narrowly won,{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/climbs-tp-toughen-tour-down-under/story-fn8sc2wz-1226074240419|title=Valverde-Gerrans duel on the hill sets up Tour finale|work=The Australian|publisher=News Limited|first=Peter|last=Kogoy|date=21 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012}} but Gerrans' second-place finish allowed him to take the ochre jersey ahead of Valverde; both riders were on the same time, but due to better cumulative stage finishes, Gerrans took the jersey. Machado finished third ahead of Rogers and Dennis, with the three riders also in that order, taking third, fourth and fifth places in the overall standings and within fifteen seconds of Gerrans' lead. Edvald Boasson Hagen maintained his lead for {{UCI team code|SKY|2012|nolink=yes}} in the sprints classification after finishing sixth on the stage, Dennis added the youth classification lead to his lead of the mountains classification, and O'Grady was named most combative rider of the day.

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|General Classification after Stage 5

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;22 January 2012 — Adelaide (criterium), {{convert|90|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-6|title=Stage 6 Preview|date=12 January 2012|accessdate=18 January 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919175223/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt/stage-6/|archive-date=19 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

File:Jan Bakelants 2012 Tour Down Under.jpg was the only rider inside the top ten placings to gain time on the final stage; his bonus seconds earned at the second intermediate sprint allowed him to move up to sixth place overall.]]

The race finished with its now-customary criterium race around the streets of Adelaide; for the {{convert|90|km|1|abbr=on}} distance, a circuit of {{convert|4.5|km|1|abbr=on}} was completed twenty times with several passages through the finish line counting towards the sub-classifications for sprints and the mountains. Sixteen riders representing thirteen teams managed to get slightly clear of the rest of the field, but their advantage never cleared a minute, and the field was back together just after the first of the intermediate sprints. Prior to the second intermediate sprint, Jan Bakelants of {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}} attacked in the hope of gaining bonus seconds to allow him to move past {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}} rider Edvald Boasson Hagen for sixth place overall, and went through the sprint first to pick up the three bonus seconds on offer. Bakelants was later joined by defending race winner Cameron Meyer of the {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} team and Romain Sicard ({{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}) to form the second mini-breakaway of the stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/22/simon-gerrans-clinches-tour-down-under-for-greenedge/|first=Chad|last=Bennett|title=Simon Gerrans clinches Tour Down Under for GreenEDGE|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|work=The Roar|publisher=The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd.}}

The trio managed to get clear by a similar distance to what the opening breakaway had achieved – around 40 seconds – and for a time, it allowed Bakelants to be the virtual leader of the race, as he trailed race leader Simon Gerrans – Meyer's team-mate – by just 16 seconds on the road. Ultimately, the sprinters' teams managed to assert themselves on the front of the peloton, with {{UCI team code|LAM|2012}}, {{UCI team code|LIQ|2012}} and {{UCI team code|LTB|2012}} forcing the cause most prominently. Bakelants' bid for victory ended with a lap and a half to go, and was joined by Sicard in that aspect. Meyer tried to go all-out in search of victory, and went into the final lap with an advantage over the closing field. Half a lap later, he was caught and that set up a full-field sprint to close the event. As they had done twice before in the week, it was {{UCI team code|LTB|2012|nolink=yes}} playing their hand best, as André Greipel was released to a third stage victory and an eleventh career win in the Tour Down Under, putting him one shy of the record held by Robbie McEwen.{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/gerrans-wins-tour-down-under-20120122-1qbx0.html|first=Roger|last=Vaughan|title=Gerrans wins Tour Down Under|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|agency=Australian Associated Press}} Second place went to {{UCI team code|RAB|2012}}'s Mark Renshaw, and third to {{UCI team code|LAM|2012|nolink=yes}} rider Alessandro Petacchi.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-6/results |first=Alex |last=Hinds |title=Gerrans crowned Tour Down Under champion in Adelaide |date=22 January 2012 |accessdate=25 January 2012 |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123113125/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-6/results |archivedate=23 January 2012 }}

There was no change in the top five overall, which meant that Gerrans secured the overall title for the second time, after previously winning the race in 2006 for {{UCI team code|ALM|2006}}; it also allowed {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a|nolink=yes}} to claim victory in its first World Tour event. Sixth place on the final stage was enough for Boasson Hagen to claim the sprints classification; despite not winning any stages,{{cite news|url=http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,24270_7447817,00.html|title=Strong result Down Under|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|work={{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}|publisher=BSkyB}} Boasson Hagen's consistent finishing across the entire week allowed him to accumulate points from all positions, whereas Greipel's three stage wins were rarely backed up by other high finishes. Dennis held the lead of the youth classification, and also kept a hold of the mountains classification lead as Thomas De Gendt ({{UCI team code|VCD|2012}}) and Gerrans failed to take any points on offer for the stage, and both fell five points shy of Dennis' total.{{cite news|url=http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120122-stage6.asp|title=Team support takes Dennis to the summit|work=Team UniSA|publisher=University of South Australia|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126120713/http://www.unisa.edu.au/tdu/news/2012/20120122-stage6.asp|archive-date=26 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Bakelants claimed the final most combative rider of the stage award, as he managed to move into sixth place overall thanks to bonus time won on the stage.

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|Final General Classification

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In the 2012 Tour Down Under, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received an ochre jersey.{{cite news|title=Tour Down Under 2012: Cycling Weekly's coverage index|date=18 January 2012|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/531273/tour-down-under-2012-cycling-weekly-s-coverage-index.html|first=Nigel|last=Wynn|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|accessdate=29 December 2013}} This classification was considered the most important of the 2012 Tour Down Under, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Additionally, there was a sprints classification, which awarded a blue jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 15 points, with one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a white jersey. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.

The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a black jersey. This was decided in the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1986 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time, and each member of the winning team received a light blue jersey on the final podium.{{cite news|url=http://www.radioshackleopardtrek.com/gallery/podium-best-team-tour-down-under|title=Podium Best Team Tour Down Under|work={{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}|publisher=Leopard SA|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=29 December 2013}} Additionally, a red jersey was awarded on the podium each day, for the most aggressive rider, or riders, of that day's stage.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://tourdownunder.com.au/}}

{{2012 UCI World Tour}}

{{Tour Down Under}}

Category:Tour Down Under

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