Richie Porte remains defiant after fellow Australian cycling star Cadel Evans gained the upper hand in the Tour Down Under.

Evans was second in a pulsating finish to Thursday’s third stage at Paracombe as BMC team-mate Rohan Dennis sprinted past for an outstanding win.

The BMC quinella means Dennis now leads the race, seven seconds ahead of Evans who is in his last WorldTour race before he retires from professional cycling on February 1.

Porte was sixth on the stage to be fourth overall at 15 seconds.

While the Sky team leader was disappointed, he was far from pessimistic after the stage.

The race will now come down to Saturday’s Queen stage at Willunga.

Friday’s fourth stage from Glenelg to Mt Barker is unlikely to affect the overall standings, with a sprint finish likely.

“Willunga is a different story,” said Porte, who won the Willunga stage last year.

“I guess they (BMC) are in a good position, but I don’t think it is all over yet.

“Willunga is a totally different style of climb.

“I think she’s not over until the fat lady sings at the top of that.”

Porte also pointed to BMC being a man down, with young Australian Campbell Flakemore breaking a collarbone after Wednesday’s second stage.

“We will just have to see how it plays out on Willunga, but they are a man down and that’s not going to make it easy.

“They will have to control the race now, which they haven’t done thus far.

“We will just see how the next few days go.”

– AAP