2013 Tour Down Under

File:Stuart OGrady, 2013 Tour Down Under (cropped).jpg, winner of the race in 1999 and 2001, was one of four former Tour Down Under overall winners to compete in the 2013 edition.]]

As the Tour Down Under was a UCI World Tour event, all 18 UCI ProTeams at the time of the race were invited automatically and obligated to send a squad. {{UCI team code|KAT|2013}} was not invited, as the legal proceedings concerning their ProTour status were not resolved yet. 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:{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/start-list|title=Santos Tour Down Under 2013 start list|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|access-date=29 January 2013}}

Among the 133-rider start list were four previous winners of the race. Stuart O'Grady (1999 and 2001) and Simon Gerrans (2006 and 2012) were both part of the {{UCI team code|OGE|2013}} line-up,{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13694/Orica-GreenEdge-aims-for-stages-as-Gerrans-defends-his-title-in-Santos-Tour-Down-Under.aspx|title=Orica-GreenEdge aims for stages as Gerrans defends his title in Santos Tour Down Under|first=Ben|last=Atkins|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=13 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013}} 2003 winner Mikel Astarloza was part of the {{UCI team code|EUS|2013}} squad for the race,{{cite news|url=http://www.tourism.sa.gov.au/media/spanish-sensations-confirmed-for-santos-tour-down-under.aspx|title=Spanish sensations confirmed for Santos Tour Down Under|work=South Australian Tourism Commission|publisher=Government of South Australia|date=4 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013|archive-date=12 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412114852/http://www.tourism.sa.gov.au/media/spanish-sensations-confirmed-for-santos-tour-down-under.aspx|url-status=dead}} while André Greipel – another two-time winner, in 2008 and 2010 respectively – was the main sprinter for the {{UCI team code|LTB|2013}} squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.lottobelisol.be/en/race-selections-january-790.htm|title=Race selections January|work={{UCI team code|LTB|2013}}|publisher=Belgian Cycling Project|date=2 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013|quote=In the meantime traditionally the first WorldTour race of the year is taking place, the Tour Down Under, preceded by the Down Under Classic two days earlier. Herman Frison is sports director in that race, Adam Hansen and Greg Henderson – although he's a New-Zealander – are the local heroes, André Greipel the top sprinter; together with Olivier Kaisen, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Tim Wellens they will form the Lotto Belisol squad.|archive-date=7 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107020051/http://www.lottobelisol.be/en/race-selections-january-790.htm|url-status=dead}}

;22 January 2013 — Prospect to Lobethal, {{convert|135|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-1.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Stage 1: Prospect to Lobethal – 135 km|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413095232/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-1.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2013|url-status=dead}}

For the second successive year, the Tour Down Under started with a stage beginning in Prospect; on this occasion, an undulating {{convert|135|km|1|abbr=on}} parcours was scheduled for the riders, including one categorised climb – a steep,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-1|title=Stage 1 profile|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 October 2012|access-date=29 January 2013}} second-category ascent of Checker Hill – around a third into the stage. Three intermediate sprint points were also scheduled, as the riders completed nearly three laps of a finishing circuit around Lobethal, with the sprints each taking place in the town of Charleston. The final sprint came with around {{convert|16.5|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining of the stage, before leading to the uphill finish in Lobethal; where it was likely to result in a sprint finish.{{cite web|url=http://inrng.com/tour-down-under/|title=2013 Santos Tour Down Under preview|work=The Inner Ring|publisher=Blogspot|date=19 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013}}{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Kohlmorgen|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/01/22/tour-down-under-stage-one-preview/|title=Tour Down Under stage one preview|work=The Roar|publisher=The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd.|date=22 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013}}

On his World Tour début,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-1/results|title=Greipel crushes competition in Lobethal|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=22 January 2013|access-date=22 January 2013|first=Alex|last=Malone}} the Australian under-23 champion Jordan Kerby launched a solo attack for the UniSA-Australia representative team in the early moments of the stage; he held a maximum lead of around seven minutes at one point during the stage,{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13761/Santos-Tour-Down-Under-Andre-Greipel-makes-it-a-dozen-in-opening-day-sprint.aspx|title=André Greipel makes it a dozen in opening day sprint|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=22 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013|first=Ben|last=Atkins}} but was eventually caught during the second of the finishing laps around Lobethal by {{UCI team code|OPQ|2013}} rider Jérôme Pineau. Pineau dropped Kerby not long after catching him, and accumulated a lead of 1' 15" as he started the final lap. His move was ended in Charleston, as {{UCI team code|BMC|2013}}'s Philippe Gilbert moved out of the peloton to gain the three bonus seconds on offer for the first rider across the sprint line.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-gilbert-shows-tour-down-under-gc-intentions|title=Gilbert shows Tour Down Under GC intentions|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=22 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013|first=Jane|last=Aubrey}} After several late attacks were caught, the sprint trains of the {{UCI team code|LTB|2013}} and {{UCI team code|RAB|2013a}} teams moved toward the front of the field. With a lead-out from {{UCI team code|LTB|2013|nolink=yes}} team-mates Jürgen Roelandts and Greg Henderson, André Greipel achieved a record-equalling twelfth Tour Down Under stage victory, comfortably winning the sprint ahead of Arnaud Démare ({{UCI team code|FDJ|2013a}}) and {{UCI team code|RAB|2013a|nolink=yes}}'s Mark Renshaw.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/race-results/2013-santos-tour-down-under-results-stage-1_272222/1|title=2013 Santos Tour Down Under results, stage 1|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=22 January 2013|access-date=22 January 2013|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126105057/http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/race-results/2013-santos-tour-down-under-results-stage-1_272222/1|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/8421985/Andre-Greipel-makes-perfect-start-at-Tour-Down-Under-winning-stage-one|title=Andre Greipel makes perfect start at Tour Down Under winning stage one|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=22 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013}} As a result, Greipel picked up the ochre and blue jerseys for being the first leader of the points and general classifications.

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|General Classification after Stage 1

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;23 January 2013 — Mount Barker to Rostrevor, {{convert|116.5|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-2.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Stage 2: Mount Barker to Rostrevor – 116.5 km|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124014654/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-2.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

File:Geraint Thomas, 2013 Tour Down Under (cropped).jpg (pictured before the fourth stage) fared best in the final sprint, to win the stage and assume the leader's ochre jersey.]]

Although relatively short at {{convert|116.5|km|1|abbr=on}} in length, the second stage of the Tour was undulating from the start in Mount Barker. After passing through the first sprint point in the town of Echunga, the riders had to negotiate a short loop around the Adelaide Hills, passing Hahndorf and Littlehampton on the route, before a second intermediate sprint at Oakbank. The run-in towards the finish at Rostrevor was punctuated by the day's only categorised climb, the first-category Corkscrew ascent, which made its début in the race.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/corkscrew-road-to-feature-in-santos-tour-down-under/story-e6frea6u-1226414316785|title=Corkscrew Road to feature in Santos Tour Down Under|first=Reece|last=Homfray|work=Adelaide Now|publisher=News Limited|date=2 July 2012|access-date=1 February 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-22/corkscrew-the-big-challenge-for-tour-down-under/4477982|title=Corkscrew the big challenge for Tour Down Under|work=ABC Sport|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=22 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} With parts of the climb reaching a gradient of around 17%,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/corkscrew-a-serious-hurdle-for-tour-down-under-contenders|title=Corkscrew a serious hurdle for Tour Down Under contenders|first1=Jane|last1=Aubrey|first2=Alex|last2=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} it was expected to significantly reduce the numbers in the peloton before the descent into Rostrevor, with sprinters not expecting to feature by the end.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-2|title=Stage 2 profile|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 October 2012|access-date=1 February 2013}}

A quartet of riders – UniSA-Australia's Calvin Watson, {{UCI team code|ARG|2013}} rider Will Clarke, Guillaume Bonnafond of {{UCI team code|ALM|2013}} and {{UCI team code|SAX|2013}}'s Christopher Juul-Jensen{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-2/results|title=Thomas wins the battle of Corkscrew|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} – made the early breakaway from the field, but were not allowed to attain a substantial advantage due to the Corkscrew and its potential to split the race apart. Clarke won both of the intermediate sprints on the route, beating Watson at the first of them and Bonnafond at the latter sprint.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13768/Thomas-grabs-stage-win-and-race-lead-on-day-two-of-Santos-Tour-Down-Under.aspx|title=Thomas grabs stage win and race lead on day two of Santos Tour Down Under|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} In the peloton, {{UCI team code|BMC|2013}} was keeping station at the front as Swiss champion Martin Kohler, who led the race overall at one point in 2012, was protecting their leader Philippe Gilbert, who had been in the top ten overall overnight after his bonus seconds gained on the opening stage. Gilbert would ultimately be one of twenty riders to crash on the descent from the Corkscrew, and rode to the finish with a broken derailleur,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536542/geraint-thomas-wins-stage-and-takes-tour-down-under-lead.html|title=Geraint Thomas wins stage and takes Tour Down Under lead|first=Sophie|last=Smith|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} losing nearly three minutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13773/Gilbert-loses-chance-of-winning-Santos-Tour-Down-Under.aspx|title=Gilbert loses chance of winning Santos Tour Down Under|first=Shane|last=Stokes|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}}

The breakaway was gradually brought back, with Clarke remaining off the front of the main field until the foot of the Corkscrew. Several mini-attacks occurred as soon as the gradient rose, but it was not until the pre-stage favourite George Bennett ({{UCI team code|RLT|2013}}) made his move on the climb that an attack gained ground from the main field. {{UCI team code|SKY|2013}}'s Geraint Thomas joined him for a point on the climb, before moving further up the road,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-radioshack-leopard-with-cards-to-play-at-down-under|title=RadioShack Leopard with cards to play at Down Under|first=Alex|last=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=23 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} to take maximum points for the climb and the classification lead. Bennett caught up to Thomas on the descent, with his team-mate Ben Hermans and Javier Moreno of the {{UCI team code|MOV|2013}} also joining the duo. As the most proficient sprinter of the group, Thomas waited the longest to launch his sprint and soon sped past his rivals to take the stage victory, achieving a one-second gap in the process and the ochre jersey. Moreno and Hermans also stayed ahead of a closing eleven-rider group, while Bennett finished the stage tenth.

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|General Classification after Stage 2

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;24 January 2013 — Unley to Stirling, {{convert|139|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-3.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=BikeExchange.com.au Stage 3: Unley to Stirling – 139 km|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124014926/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-3.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

The third stage of the race was predominantly a circuit race around Stirling; just over {{convert|30|km|1|abbr=on}} from the start in Unley – via a second-category climb in the early kilometres of the stage, at Eagle On The Hill – the riders reached the finishing town of Stirling. From there, five laps{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/cycling/2013/01/24/tom-jelte-slagter-wins-stage-3-of-tour-down-under/1860757/|title=Tom-Jelte Slagter wins stage 3 of Tour Down Under|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|agency=The Associated Press}} of a {{convert|21.4|km|1|abbr=on}} circuit were completed – two more than the equivalent circuit around the town during the second stage of the 2012 Tour – with intermediate sprints to be contested in Heathfield on each of the first two laps. A hilly circuit was projected to reduce the numbers in any potential final sprint, although not as prominently as the previous stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-3|title=Stage 3 profile|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 October 2012|access-date=1 February 2013}} After several mini-breaks were initiated before Eagle On The Hill, leading to a 23-rider lead group for a short period, the day's breakaway was formed by a pair of riders.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13777/Santos-Tour-Down-Under-Tom-Jelter-Slagter-takes-stage-three-with-final-kilometre-attack.aspx|title=Tom-Jelte Slagter takes stage three with final kilometre attack|first=Ben|last=Atkins|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}}

{{UCI team code|OGE|2013}} rider Simon Clarke was joined at the head of the race by Will Clarke – the winner in Stirling in 2012 after a stage-long breakaway{{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|access-date=1 February 2013|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|agency=Reuters}} – who featured in the lead for the second day running, for {{UCI team code|ARG|2013}}. The Clarkes built up a maximum lead of around three-and-a-half minutes, with {{UCI team code|SKY|2013}} leading the peloton and protecting race leader Geraint Thomas. Thomas gained a second at the first intermediate sprint,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-3/results|title=Slagter takes tough victory into Stirling|first=Alex|last=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} to extend his overall lead by one second,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/thomas-happy-with-another-second-in-the-bank-at-tour-down-under|title=Thomas happy with another second in the bank at Tour Down Under|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} as the Clarkes took maximum points on offer at each sprint. They were joined by six other riders, who had been a part of a 12-rider move that had broken clear of the peloton on the third lap of the circuit. The move broke down on the final lap, and after {{UCI team code|CAN|2013}}'s Cameron Wurf was caught inside the final kilometre, it ultimately set up a reduced sprint of around thirty riders. With only David Tanner as a lead-out, {{UCI team code|RAB|2013a}}'s Tom-Jelte Slagter – the young rider classification leader – moved to the front of the line, launched his sprint early, and held off the rest of the group to take his first professional victory by a bike length, ahead of Matthew Goss ({{UCI team code|OGE|2013|nolink=yes}}) and {{UCI team code|BMC|2013}}'s Philippe Gilbert.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9823949/Tour-Down-Under-2013-stage-three-Tom-Jelte-Slagter-wins-sprint-finish-as-Geraint-Thomas-retains-overall-lead.html|title=Tom-Jelte Slagter wins sprint finish as Geraint Thomas retains overall lead|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} He moved into second place overall, five seconds behind Thomas, who retained the ochre jersey.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21156612|title=Geraint Thomas finishes fourth to retain lead|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=24 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}}

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|General Classification after Stage 3

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;25 January 2013 — Modbury to Tanunda, {{convert|126.5|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-4.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Bupa Stage 4: Modbury to Tanunda – 126.5 km|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124015056/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-4.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

The fourth stage saw the remaining riders head north-west from the start in Modbury to the eventual finish in the Barossa Valley and the town of Tanunda, for its third stage finish of the Tour in four years; on the two previous occasions, sprinters had fared best as André Greipel won the opening stage in 2010,{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/01/news/down-under-in-tanunda-greipel-takes-one-for-real_102484|title=Down Under in Tanunda, Greipel takes one for real|first=Anthony|last=Tan|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=19 January 2010|access-date=1 February 2013}} while Óscar Freire was the victor in 2012, winning stage four.{{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|access-date=1 February 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}} The {{convert|126.5|km|1|abbr=on}} itinerary, consisting of one categorised climb – a second category climb in Humbug Scrub – and two intermediate sprints once again, was exponentially suited to the sprinters and a bunch sprint was to be expected in Tanunda.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-4|title=Stage 4 profile|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 October 2012|access-date=1 February 2013}} Not long after the start, another two-rider breakaway of the day was formed, consisting of the reigning World Champion Philippe Gilbert of the {{UCI team code|BMC|2013}}, and Damien Howson of the UniSA-Australia representative team.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13783/Greipel-grabs-another-at-Santos-Tour-Down-Under-setting-new-stage-win-record.aspx|title=Greipel grabs another at Santos Tour Down Under, setting new stage win record|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=25 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}}

The pair built up a lead of over three minutes during the stage, but once again, the peloton did not allow for it to climb any further, to minimise the threats to the general classification. Howson took maximum points at Humbug Scrub,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-4/results|title=Greipel takes 13th stage victory in Tanunda|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=25 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} with Gilbert taking the honours at both intermediate sprint points in Mount Pleasant and Springton respectively. The duo remained off the front until inside the final {{convert|10|km|1|abbr=on}}, when the sprint trains of the sprinters' teams began to move towards the front of the main field. Inside the final kilometre, six riders – including three members of the {{UCI team code|OGE|2013}} squad – crashed, but all riders were able to remount and finish the stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/late-race-crash-mars-tanunda-finish-for-orica-greenedge|title=Late Race Crash Mars Tanunda Finish for ORICA-GreenEDGE|work={{UCI team code|OGE|2013}}|publisher=GreenEDGE Cycling|date=25 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} {{UCI team code|LTB|2013}} led out from the front, with Greg Henderson the final man for Greipel to launch his sprint off of. Greipel ultimately won by a bike length, ahead of {{UCI team code|LAM|2013}}'s Roberto Ferrari and Jonathan Cantwell of {{UCI team code|SAX|2013}}, to achieve a record-breaking thirteenth stage win at the race, surpassing Robbie McEwen's previous record of twelve.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-25/lucky-13-for-greipel-breaks-tour-record/4484610|title=Lucky 13 for Greipel breaks Tour record|work=ABC Sport|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=25 January 2013|access-date=1 February 2013}} None of the top ten overall were involved in the late-stage incidents, allowing Geraint Thomas ({{UCI team code|SKY|2013}}) to maintain his overall lead.

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|General Classification after Stage 4

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;26 January 2013 — McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill, {{convert|151.5|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-5.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Jayco Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill – 151.5 km|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413095830/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-5.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2013|url-status=dead}}

The race's queen stage{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536613/tom-slagter-relieves-geraint-thomas-of-tour-down-under-lead.html|title=Tom Slagter relieves Geraint Thomas of Tour Down Under lead|first=Sophie|last=Smith|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cycling/simon-gerrans-extracts-revenge-in-tour-down-under/story-fn8sc2wz-1226562523596|title=Simon Gerrans extracts revenge in Tour Down Under|work=The Australian|publisher=News Limited|first=Peter|last=Kogoy|date=26 January 2013|access-date=25 January 2012}} was unaltered from its 2012 iteration, for the 2013 event. From the start in McLaren Vale, the peloton covered several kilometres before reaching Willunga, and from there, riders completed three laps of a coast-side loop around Aldinga Beach and Snapper Point; both of the intermediate sprint points were held in the latter suburb, coming on the second and third laps. Upon reaching Willunga for the fourth time, the race headed in the opposite direction, and the first of two ascents of Old Willunga Hill – a {{convert|3|km|1|abbr=on}} long, first-category 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|access-date=2 February 2013|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group}} – on another short loop, before the summit finish. It was expected that the finish would be contested between a small group,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-5|title=Stage 5 profile|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 October 2012|access-date=2 February 2013}} and that the climb would crown the overall winner of the race, ahead of the final stage criterium in Adelaide.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/old-willunga-hill-to-decide-winner-of-tour-down-under|first=Alex|last=Malone|title=Old Willunga Hill to decide winner of Tour Down Under|date=25 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc}}

After two earlier foiled attacks, the stage saw an eventual breakaway of seven riders, as they quickly went clear of the main field; home rider Calvin Watson (UniSA-Australia) was part of the group on Australia Day, where he was joined by {{UCI team code|VCD|2013}} pairing Thomas De Gendt and Tomasz Marczyński, Jens Mouris of {{UCI team code|OGE|2013}}, {{UCI team code|ARG|2013}}'s Koen de Kort, Manuele Boaro ({{UCI team code|SAX|2013}}) and {{UCI team code|BMC|2013}} rider Klaas Lodewyck.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13787/Tour-Down-Under-Gerrans-edges-Slagter-on-Old-Willunga-as-Thomas-falters.aspx|title=Gerrans edges Slagter on Old Willunga as Thomas falters|first=Kyle|last=Moore|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} With de Kort being 2' 52" behind the overall leader Geraint Thomas ({{UCI team code|SKY|2013}}), the peloton did not allow for a substantial lead to be accumulated, as the maximum time gap that the breakaway established was around four-and-a-half minutes at the midway point of the stage. {{UCI team code|RAB|2013a}} were prominent on the front of the group in the hope of trying to move Tom-Jelte Slagter, the young rider classification leader and second to Thomas overall, into the ochre jersey ahead of the final stage. The upped pace in the peloton spelled the end of the breakaway just as they reached Old Willunga Hill for the first time. On the climb, the {{UCI team code|MOV|2013}} sent two of the riders off the front in the intention of helping Javier Moreno into ochre; Eros Capecchi and José Herrada were later joined by {{UCI team code|ALM|2013}}'s Guillaume Bonnafond and {{UCI team code|LTB|2013}} rider Jürgen Roelandts.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/santos-tour-down-under-2013/stage-5/results|title=Gerrans victorious on Australia Day at Old Willunga|first=Alex|last=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9828557/Tour-Down-Under-2013-stage-five-Simon-Gerrans-celebrates-thrilling-local-win-as-Geraint-Thomas-loses-grip.html|title=Simon Gerrans celebrates thrilling local win as Geraint Thomas loses grip|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}}

They reached the summit of the climb with a gap of around fifteen seconds. At this point, the peloton slowed slightly to allow the lead group to extend their advantage to around forty seconds. However, they were caught on the climb to the finish, which sparked several counter-moves in the peloton; Edvald Boasson Hagen was setting the pace for Thomas,{{cite news|url=http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17546_8439991,00.html|title=Battling Thomas drops to fifth|work={{UCI team code|SKY|2013}}|publisher=BSkyB|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} with Slagter just behind, as Moreno attacked with {{convert|1.7|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining. He held clear into the final kilometre, as defending overall winner Simon Gerrans ({{UCI team code|OGE|2013|nolink=yes}}) moved forward in the pack, soon breaking clear to join Moreno. Slagter made his move not long after, and Thomas could not follow, cracking with {{convert|600|m}} left.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-geraint-thomas-disappointed-having-lost-down-under-lead|title=Geraint Thomas disappointed having lost Down Under lead|first=Alex|last=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} Slagter and Gerrans ultimately contested a two-man sprint for the line which Gerrans narrowly won – avenging a narrow defeat to Alejandro Valverde in 2012{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536614/simon-gerrans-aiming-for-ardennes-classics-after-down-under-stage-win.html|title=Simon Gerrans aiming for Ardennes Classics after Down Under stage win|first=Sophie|last=Smith|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} – while Slagter's second-place finish allowed him to take the ochre jersey ahead of Moreno, who finished the stage third, and claimed the mountains classification lead.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/teamwork-earns-moreno-kom-lead-at-tour-down-under|title=Teamwork earns Moreno KOM lead at Tour Down Under|first=Alex|last=Malone|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} Thomas fell to fifth overall,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21211326|title=Geraint Thomas drops to fifth place|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}} as {{UCI team code|RLT|2013}}'s Ben Hermans and Jon Izagirre of {{UCI team code|EUS|2013}} moved into third and fourth respectively.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13792/Aggressive-Radioshack-Leopard-hoped-for-more-on-Old-Willunga-Hill.aspx|title=Aggressive Radioshack-Leopard hoped for more on Old Willunga Hill|first=Kyle|last=Moore|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=26 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}}

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|General Classification after Stage 5

|}

;27 January 2013 — Adelaide (criterium), {{convert|90|km|1|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-6.pdf|work=Tour Down Under|publisher=Events South Australia|access-date=7 January 2013|title=Stage 6 – 90 km: Adelaide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413095927/http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-6.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2013|url-status=dead}}

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,{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-27/slagter-wins-tour-down-under/4486368|title=Slagter wins Tour Down Under|work=ABC Sport|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|agency=Australian Associated Press/Agence France-Presse|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} with several passages through the finish line counting towards the sub-classifications for sprints and the mountains. With {{UCI team code|SKY|2013}} looking to move Geraint Thomas back onto the final overall podium, any attempts at a breakaway were quickly shut down and no move garnered more than thirty seconds of a time gap. Thus, at the first intermediate sprint point at the end of the eighth lap, Thomas sprinted for bonus seconds and after help from Edvald Boasson Hagen, he won the sprint to accumulate three seconds back. Thomas took a further second at the second sprint, won by Boasson Hagen, to move nearer the top placings.

Ultimately, the race came down to the final sprint where André Greipel ({{UCI team code|LTB|2013}}) took his third win of the race,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21219463|title=Geraint Thomas finishes third|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} and the 100th victory of his professional career.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-greipel-celebrates-yet-another-milestone-at-the-tour-down-under|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|title=Greipel celebrates yet another milestone at the Tour Down Under|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} He was followed across the line by Mark Renshaw of the {{UCI team code|RAB|2013a}} team and Boasson Hagen completed a strong day for himself with third place. A sixth-place finish for Thomas, combined with points achieved at the earlier intermediate sprints, allowed him to take the sprints classification ahead of Greipel; his stage performance was also rewarded with the most combative rider of the day honours.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-sky-leads-thomas-back-onto-podium-at-tour-down-under|first=Alex|last=Malone|title=Sky leads Thomas back onto podium at Tour Down Under|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} A small time gap also allowed him to finish third overall, with {{UCI team code|EUS|2013}}'s Jon Izagirre also moving ahead of {{UCI team code|RLT|2013}} rider Ben Hermans in the final standings. Renshaw's team-mate Tom-Jelte Slagter finished in the same time as Greipel, to achieve his first overall victory as a professional – becoming the first Dutchman to win the race{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9829627/Tour-Down-Under-2013-stage-six-Tom-Jelte-Slagter-takes-overall-title-as-Geraint-Thomas-finishes-third.html|title=Tom-Jelte Slagter takes overall title as Geraint Thomas finishes third|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} – extending his winning margin over Javier Moreno ({{UCI team code|MOV|2013}}) to 17 seconds,{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13796/Moreno-rises-to-challenge-of-team-leadership-with-second-overall-in-Santos-Tour-Down-Under.aspx|title=Moreno rises to challenge of team leadership with second overall in Santos Tour Down Under|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=27 January 2013|access-date=3 February 2013}} after Moreno finished four seconds behind.

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|Final General Classification

|}

In the 2013 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: Jersey Guide|url=http://velostage.com/tour-down-under-jersey-guide/|work=Velostage.com|publisher=Velostage|access-date=29 January 2013}} This classification was considered the most important of the 2013 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 1987 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 red jersey on the final podium. Additionally, a green jersey was awarded on the podium each day, for the most aggressive rider, or riders, of that day's stage.

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