Former Swiss cycling champion Martin Elmiger relaunched his professional career by winning the Tour Down Under after some thrilling final-day drama on Sunday.

Australian sprint king Robbie McEwen meanwhile claimed victory in the 81km, 18-lap final stage, extending his record victory tally in the race to 12. McEwen, a three-time winner of the Tour de France green jersey, held off fellow Australian Mark Renshaw, who gestured prior to the finish line about being squeezed into the barriers by the Predictor-Lotto sprinter.

McEwen was unapologetic.

Elmiger celebrates a solidly tactical victory.

Photo: Graham Watson

"I moved over to the left because there was quite a strong wind on the right,” McEwen said. "But that's cycling - you can't give out free rides."

Despite McEwen's feat, the drama focused on the bid by Karl Menzies tosnatch back the race leader's ochre jersey from Elmiger.

The 28-year-old Elmiger from Ag2r started with a one-second lead on the big UniSA sprinter following a thrilling finish to Saturday's fourth stage around Willunga.

Menzies' teammates fought to control the pace as they day's first bonus sprint approached.

Photo: Graham Watson

Menzies' only chance of an upset lay in clawing back precious bonus seconds at both intermediate sprints, on laps eight and 12, and at the finish.

But his hopes were stymied by Elmiger and the sterling work by a hungry Ag2r squad that has now claimed four of the nine Tour Down Under crowns. After UniSA had controlled the first seven laps, Ag2r brought Elmiger up to the front. In lap eight he superbly fought off Menzies and his allies to take the three seconds on offer at the sprint.

McEwen - who had nothing to race for in the intermediate sprint - lent a hand to the UniSA riders by appearing to slow up Elmiger as he came through on his right side.

The Swiss racer's angry reaction said it all as he began lap nine with a three-second lead on Menzies, having taken three seconds to Menzies' one after coming third behind teammate Allan Davis.

"It was a hard sprint," Elmiger said. "I was behind Menzies to start with but I had very good legs today and managed to win the bonus seconds. Then in the final sprint I just stayed close to him."

Menzies was still in the hunt but his ambitions were soon put to the test.

By lap 12, a group of 10 riders - including sprint classification leader Laurent Brochard - had built a 30-second lead on the chasing bunch which included Elmiger and Menzies.

The French 38-year-old former world champion won the second sprint ahead of Alexandre Botcharov and Matthew Goss, leaving Menzies' overall victory hopes hinging on winning the stage.

On the final two laps several teams packed the front in the hope of setting up the stage win for their main sprinters.

But it was McEwen, racing after a recent chest infection, who made hisexperience count. The 33-year-old hit the left side of the road to avoid the crosswinds on the right before sailing over the finish line, with Renshaw frustrated and stuck between McEwen's back wheel and the barriers.

Elmiger gets a boost going into the European road season.

Photo: Graham Watson

"It's good to get that first win of the season under your belt," said the Belgium-based sprinter, whose next big aim is to win the Milan-San Remo one day classic in March.

"I've been thinking all week about this stage. Now I'm ready to hit the season in Europe."