Though a bunch sprint was always likely, there was no shortage of riders keen to get in the break and enjoy some television time before Willunga Hill and then the Adelaide circuit complete the 2017 Tour Down Under.

Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data) and Will Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) were among the riders to see their attempts to go clear nullified by the peloton before a three-rider break finally put daylight between themselves and the bunch.

Ondrej Cink (Bahrain-Merida) – who started the day less than a minute behind Porte – Jack Bauer (QuickStep Floors) and Cameron Meyer (UniSA-Australia) were the three to go clear, with BMC Racing unconcerned with Cink’s virtual GC lead.

Indeed, he was the first to crack when Bauer turned the heat up with 55km to go, dropping first the Czech rider and then Meyer too.

Sagan came through to take second, while Britain’s Ben Swift (UAE Abu Dhabi) was fourth behind Van Poppel – the first time he has been in the sprinting mix-up so far.

Victory takes Ewan’s career tally to five at the Santos Tour Down Under, and means Australian riders have been responsible for the last ten stage wins in their home race.

All eyes will now be on Willunga Hill, however, with Porte retaining his 20-second advantage over Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) overall.

Santos Tour Down Under 2017: stage four – result

1) Caleb Ewan (AUS) – Orica-Scott – 3.45.19hrs
2) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Bora-hansgrohe – ST
3) Danny van Poppel (NED) – Team Sky
4) Ben Swift (GBR) – UAE Abu Dhabi
5) Nathan Haas (AUS) – Dimension Data
6) Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) – Katusha-Alpecin
7) Jay McCarthy (AUS) – Bora-hansgrohe
8) Callum Scotson (AUS) – UniSA-Australia
9) Jasha Sutterlin (GER) – Movistar
10) Enrico Battaglin (ITA) – LottoNL-Jumbo

General classification

1) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing – 14.20.18hrs
2) Gorka Izaguirre (ESP) – Movistar +20”
3) Johan Esteban Chaves (COL) – Orica-Scott +22”
4) Jay McCarthy (AUS) – Bora-hansgrohe +24”
5) Nathan Haas (AUS) – Dimension Data +27”
6) Rohan Dennis (AUS) – BMC Racing +29”
7) Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) – Astana – ST
8) Diego Ulissi (ITA) – UAE Abu Dhabi
9) Rafael Valls (ESP) – Lotto-Soudal
10) Ruben Guerreiro (POR) – Trek-Segafredo