Ewan has proved to be the most in-form sprinter at the first event of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour season, having triumphed in three of the five stages.

A 90 kilometre flat route in Adelaide provided the Orica-Scott rider with the opportunity to bookend the race for the second straight year, having won both the opening and closing stages of last year’s event.

Two breakaway groups were foiled during the stage by the peloton, with the capture of New Zealand’s Jack Bauer in the closing kilometres ensuring the expected sprint finish would occur.

Ewan continued his impressive run, with the Australian sprinting to victory in a time of 1 hour, 55min and 28sec.

He would out-sprint the current world champion Peter Sagan, with the Slovakian forced to settle for second for the third time behind the home favourite.

The Bora–Hansgrohe rider was followed across the line by UAE Abu Dhabi’s Slovenian sprinter Marko Kump.

Having crossed the line with the peloton, Porte was confirmed as the overall winner of the race, after previously ending up second on two occasions.

"It was a dream for me to win this race," the BMC Racing team leader said.

"It's incredible to come back here and win the Santos Tour Down Under after being so close in the last two years.

"I owe each day of racing successfully here to my team-mates.

"They took me to the line every day and it's a massive credit to them."

Porte would finish 48 seconds in front of Colombia’s Esteban Chaves, with the Orica-Scott rider ending as the runner-up.

Australia’s Jay McCarthy ended a further three seconds behind to complete the top three positions in the general classification.

It was another positive result for the Bora-Hansgrohe cyclist at the race, having won the best young rider jersey last year.