KEY POINTS:
Allan Davis of Australia won his third stage of the Tour Down Under yesterday, all but ending a "disappointing" Lance Armstrong's chances of winning his comeback race.
Davis won the 148km fifth stage of the race to take a big lead into today's final stage around central Adelaide. Armstrong finished among the main bunch, featuring in a late attack, and said he was happier with his performance. He had been in 38th place overall going into Saturday's stage, 39 seconds behind Davis.
"That felt pretty good, better than Friday," said Armstrong. "I didn't have the needed punch to make a difference but we were there and I guess going in that's what I kind of hoped for, so no complaints."
Earlier, Armstrong said after the fourth stage he was "disappointed"
by his return to action in the Tour Down Under after Davis extended his lead with victory in a sprint finish in Barossa Valley.
The American seven-time Tour De France winner, however, then refused to rule out a large surge to get among the leaders as the race progresses.
Armstrong finished in the peloton and conceded afterwards he was still a little rusty following his long lay-off.
"It's disappointing but still it's January not July so I have to keep reminding myself," he said. "It's all about setting and resetting expectations, it's been three-and-half years, it's a long time.
"This is still the first race back after a long time and I'd be kidding myself if I expected to show up and pound people."
The race concludes today on the streets of Adelaide with the Texan
insisting he will be there or thereabouts come the finish.
He said: "I think I can be there, I know I won't be riding away (from the field)."
Meanwhile the Wellington Cycling Classic is poised for a tense finish today with four riders still in contention to win the tour for the first time.
After two stages in the Wairarapa yesterday, Australian Peter McDonald (Drapac Porche) retained the tour leader's yellow jersey into the final day but was unable to put any time on his closest rivals.
Hawke's Bay rider Jeremy Vennell (Cardno) will go into this morning's time trial on the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington trailing McDonald by just 19 seconds with Australian Tim Roe (Savings and Loans) at 31s and Waikato rider Eric Drower (Subway) at 46s.
Ryan Wills finally raised the New Zealand standard at the tour when he ended Australian domination with a fine victory in the fourth stage. Wills, a New Zealand under-23 international, beat senior international Peter Latham in a sprint finish which saw Australian Cody Stevenson take third.
The Mercedes Benz rider clocked 2hrs, 47 m and 2s with Latham (Cardno) and Stevenson (Budget Forklifts) a second behind with Latham getting the nod after judges reviewed a video of the finish.
The day's racing concluded with an hour-long criterium in which McDonald and Vennell sparred but pulled their punches, recognising the need to save their energy for their work today. It was an Australian 1-2-3 with Savings and Loans' Joel Pearson pipping Cody Stevenson (Budget Forklifts) and Gene Bates (Drapac Porche) in the final dash for the finish.
Vennell said he and McDonald decided late in the day to not waste any energy.
"We both had a little dab at each other in the criterium, then had a few words just towards the end when we realised none of us would get away."
Vennell, the reigning New Zealand time trial champion would be fast today, McDonald, the Australian road champion, acknowledged.
"I just have to do what I can."
Vennell agreed the task would not be easy.
"Both of us don't really know how each other goes, so it will be pretty interesting.
"He's such a strong rider so it's going to be difficult."
