Robert Gesink (Belkin) continued his strong showing in the Tour Down Under when he finished 4th on the race's queen stage that finished at Willunga Hill. Despite dropping down one spot on the GC, the lanky Dutchman was happy with his ride.

Robert Gesink posted an encouraging result in Saturday’s fifth stage of the Tour Down Under, but dropped one spot in the GC despite his strong performance. Behind stage winner Richie Porte (Sky), Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-Green Edge), the leader of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team rushed to a fourth place on a crowded Willunga Hill yet lost his fifth place overall. Afterwards he was able to live that. 

“I’m satisfied,” Gesink said after the stage. “It was a pretty short and explosive climb, and a fourth place is very good for me. Of course I would have preferred to win, but Porte was just too strong. There was nothing I could do to stop him. Personally I have done well, I think. I fought with the best riders in the race and I know for a fact that I rode a strong climb.” 
 

Porte claimed the stage victory thanks to a late attack on the final climb. Because of his lead at the line and the bonus seconds he collected there, he pushed Gesink down a spot in the overall standings. 

“The teams of the favourites accelerated immediately at the foot of the climb," Gesink recounted. “The pace was incredibly high. The situation really exploded and I had to work hard to follow. No one had a real answer to Porte’s move. I just rode my own race and was able to overtake some riders in the final metres, including Cadel Evans.” 

The Tour Down Under concludes Sunday with a 96-kilometre criterium through Adelaide. There are still some bonus seconds up for grabs, but the GC will likely not change dramatically, and it will be a day for the peloton's sprinters.

Belkin will give Graeme Brown his chance to shine on home soil.