Overall leader Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) has built a four-second lead over Mitchelton Scott's Damien Howson and a six-second lead over young St. George Continental's Sebastian Berwick in the final stage of the 2020 Herald Sun Tour on Saturday. Mount Buller summit finish.

Unless the time difference between the top three overall finishers is still too small on Saturday evening, the climb to the ski resort will likely decide this year's podium.

The list of potential overall winners is still long at this point, as the top three on stage 4 will receive bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds. The top three of Hindley, Howson, and Berwick, as well as Nielson Powles (EF Pro Cycling) in 4th, 23 seconds behind Hindley, Hindley's teammate Michael Stohler in 5th, and Jesse Ewert (Team Supra Cycling) in 6th, are all within a minute of the lead. position.

The 15km climb to the ski resort is tough, averaging 6% but with a maximum incline of 13%. While there is a good chance that an ambitious breakaway group could reach the bottom of the slopes with a slight advantage, the team of GC riders will work hard to get their riders to the bottom in the best possible position and in the best possible conditions.

After Friday's third stage, Hindley, who took the leader's jersey for the second day, admitted to reporters, including Cycling News, that he was "pretty nervous" about trying to retain the yellow jersey in such an important stage on Saturday.

"But I'm very keen to give myself a good incentive at Mount Buller," he said.

"But I'm very keen to give them a good stimulus at Mount Buller.

Asked what he plans to do to prepare for the climb, which he has never run, Hindley said, "I'm doing everything I can.

"I'm doing quite a bit. I'm looking at the roads, looking at maps and street views. I'll do my homework, don't worry," he smiled.

Hindley's main rival is 2017 Herald Sun Tour champion Howson, who has a strong and experienced Mitchelton Scott team, but Hindley can also rely on the climbing skills of Sunweb teammates Rob Power and Michael Stoller

Like Hindley and Howson, 20-year-old Berwick finished stage 3 safely in the peloton and will be ready for Saturday's stage as a rider for the Australian domestic team St. George Continental.

"I think we'll see the same kind of riders that will be in the finale at Falls Creek," Hindley said, referring to Berwick, Howson, and Powles. Falls is a pretty straightforward climb, and once you get to the top, there's no hiding." Blur is a little harder, but the distance is shorter, so I think they'll be similar."

Asked if he thought Howson's Mitchelton Scott teammate Simon Yates could get into the mix on Mount Buller, Hindley agreed that the British climber could.

"I think so. He may have just had a bad day yesterday," Hindley said, referring to the Falls Creek stage where Yates was nearly 6 minutes behind the stage winner. But he looked pretty strong today, and I think he's going to come out guns blazing tomorrow."

"But we have our plan.