Ventoso victorious but Meyer maintains leading margin

's Francesco Ventoso (Movistar) conquered the punishing hills of Willunga to win the penultimate stage of the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under in a photo finish but

The gripping 131 kilometre 'queen' stage of the Tour was raced under sunny skies and near perfect conditions beginning from the wine growing centre of McLaren Vale and headed from the vines to the seaside before twice tackling Old Willunga Hill on the way to the finish in the town of Willunga.

On the line Ventoso, who last September won Paris-Brussels and was the silver medallist in the road race at the 2010 Spanish Championships, narrowly edged out Canberra's Michael Matthews, 20, (Rabobank) with Tasmania's Matthew Goss (HTC Highroad) in third place.

The three placegetters all collected time bonuses on the line and while Meyer remians in the Santos ochre leader's jersey tomorrow his leading margin to Goss is now down to eight seconds with Dutchman Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) at ten seconds and Matthews now in fourth at 12 seconds. Ventoso has moved up into fifth and is 17 seconds off the overall lead.

"At the end of the day it was a perfect situation for us," said Meyer, who also retained his lead in the Cycle Instead Young Rider Under 26 classification. "Obviously it looks like Matt Goss has picked up a few more seconds and closed the gap, and so has Michael Matthews, but the plan was not let him get the full 12 seconds back and make sure we held on to the jersey today."

Eight riders, including Italy's Davide Viganò (Leopard – Trek), American John Murphy (BMC), Argentina's Sebastian Haedo (Saxo Bank – Sungard) and Queensland's Michael Hepburn (UniSA – Australia), were in an early break that went away in the first five kilometres of racing.

Garmin-Cervelo's Travis Meyer, Matthew Wilson and Jack Bobridge and Tyler Farrar controlled the peloton making sure they staying within striking distance to reel in the escapees. Viganò was the best placed of the leaders having started the day in 16th position at 28 seconds so it was no surprise when he won the first Jayco Sprint at Snapper Point (23.3km) to gain a three second time bonus. Haedo was second and Murphy third. In the second intermediate sprint Murphy turned the tables on Viganò with Spain's Juan Horrach (Katusha) third.

Once the sprints were over though the big guns came out of hiding and the leaders were caught on the first approach to Old Willunga Hill. Skoda King of the Mountain leader Luke Roberts (UniSA-Australia) attacked to claim the maximum points over the summit at 89.4km to extend his lead in the classification.

Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (Radio Shack) rode off the front after the descent but was quickly absorbed by the peloton which, for the most part, regrouped ahead of the second time up the climb.

A three man breakaway of Belgium Ben Hermans (Radio Shack), local hero Jack Bobridge (Garmin-Cervelo) and Tasmanian Richie Porte (Saxo Bank - Sungard) attacked at the foot of the climb Hwithermans taking top points over the summit at 111.9km ahead of Porte and Bobridge. Porte was named Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider of the Day.

The trio went on with it after the climb in a vain bid to stay clear over the remaining 20 kilometres to the finish but a chasing group of 18 riders, including Cameron Meyer, Matthews and Goss, proved too strong reeling in the trio with ten kilometres left to race.

Bobridge had a bingle with David Lopez (Movistar) as the peloton upped the pace over the final few kilometres but both completed the stage.

The sprint was fierce but Ventoso won the day stopping the clock in 3:06:10.

"This is a massive victory for me, but more important for the team," said Ventoso, 28, who in 2006 won a stage of the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain).

"We have a new sponsor this year and to win is really important. We can be calm for the rest of the year, now we have won a race," said Ventoso of his Movistar team that now leads the Brilliant Blend team standings ahead of Vacansoleil-DCM and AG2R la Mondiale.

"My legs today are stronger than other days. The crowds were incredible and the ambience is very special for cycling," said the jubilant stage winner.

Matthews, who won Colemans Group Stage 3 into Stirling, was centimetres away from a second win in his debut as a professional.

"Awesome ride for me, (but) being that close to a win is a little devastating, but it was awesome for the team and me. Laurens got up in the front of the bunch so we are still in the top ten, so, it was a really good ride for Rabobank," said Matthews. "I definitely did not expect it coming in to this, with so many good riders here.

"I have pretty good form so I was pretty confident that I would go alright, but definitely not two podiums."

The talented youngster who is the reigning under 23 road race World Champion says the crowd blew him away.

"It was amazing, I could not actually hear myself think. We had a lot of people out there cheering for us and especially being an Aussie, with the Aussie crowd, it was amazing, just like the World Championships.

"They were going crazy and it was awesome for us and got us more motivated to work harder and put on a show," Matthews added.

Goss was happy to cut into Meyer's lead and maintain his hold on the Jayco sprint classification.

"The day went alright, I ended up in the bunch I wanted to be in," said Goss, 24. "It wasn't a perfect sprint for me I made a bit of a mistake. I tried to get on the side with less wind but I got close to the barrier a little bit.

" I still managed to get third and I'm a few seconds away from the lead so I'm there for a crack tomorrow."

Looking ahead to the IG Markets Stage 6 Goss was optimistic about his chances on the Adelaide City Council Street Circuit.

"I can try and get some bonus seconds and try and get the win I've been so close all week. I've been in and out of the jersey so if the pattern keeps going the way it has it's my turn to get back into the jersey tomorrow," said Goss.

HTC-Highroad, Garmin-Cervelo and Rabobank are all expected to fight for control to set up their key men in a hotly contested battle for overall honours but the likes of Robbie McEwen (Radio Shack) and several other sprint challengers can be expected to vie for the stage win.

"I'll be having fingers crossed, hopefully Tyler (Farrar)and Julian (Dean) get time bonuses over the sprinters, but it's going to come right down to the wire," Meyer said. "But I have a good team around me and hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow.

"My legs were good, so hopefully tomorrow everything works out well and we might have the jersey at the end of it," Meyer added.

The final 90km stage of the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under will kick off at 1.15pm.

Official results are available on the website. Live stage coverage, start lists and race and associated events information will also be available on the official website www.tourdownunder.com.au.