So the final day in the Lowveld and one final climb of God's Window for the riders to contend. In name this is a flat stage though many are predicting a final showdown between the GC favourites, certainly those not in the top 20 positions over the top of the final climb may find it hard to win the stage or may even find themselves gapped.
It is another competition that is on the mind of young Portuguese Jaoa Costa who attacks from the gun.
His intentions are the King of the Mountains competition for which he trails leader Mark McNally by three points. The young British leader shows no fight at all in defending the jersey,
Costa romps clear of the pack alone.
The first climb offers 6-4-2, so Costa just needs either 1st or 2nd to take the lead as he is three points behind McNally. He is joined on the climb by Juha Heiskari, who is climbing better than ever seen before.
Shockingly and annoyingly perhaps for Costa Heiskari takes the six points maximum, but Costa's four points are enough to dethrone a knackered McNally who doesn't contest behind. Some joy for the Petrobrus team who have had a pretty dismal season in the bottom half of the team standings.
On the descent, another youngster in Martin Mahdar bridges.
But the trio are not able to build a big lead with Pivovarna Laski confusingly chasing. All this does though is lead to more riders bridging including 24 year old Swiss Andreas Anderegg and surprisingly one of the stage favourites for today Simon Gaywood.
Also coming acriss significantly raising the average age of the breakaway is yesterdays 1-2 both Francisco Mancebo and Nuno Ribeiro.
It's a confusing mix of a break, but never is it allowed too much freedom. German journeyman Robert Retschke and plucky Georgian Giorgi Nadiradze manage to bridge across.
But the pack draw the break in before the final God's Window climb. The good thing for those from the break is that they are well placed in the pack before this tricky and narrow in places climb.
Gazprom have forced their way to the front for renowned hill hater Samai Samai, who may be last on GC but harbours hopes of a stage win.
That is if he can get over this hill, Gazprom have looked to play the place the guy near the front ploy.
Predictably though as the gradient rises so Samai Samai falls backwards through the pack.
As we reach the top it is former breakaway rider Retschke who leads us over, no worries here for new King of the Mountains leader (and indeed competition winner) as no sign of McNally.
Race leader Ruben Elvira Lobato goes over third wheel, moving to 5th on the KoM comp, but more importantly keeps him in the first group off the top of the climb.
The field is split to smithereens, Gazprom have had to drop back to Samai, who has been left behind. There will be a reforming on the descent but some of the sprint hopes for the stage are left well behind by the pace on the climb, Cativen keep the pace high for Ochoa and Laverde Jimenez.
In the confusion as we enter the town underneath the climb, none of the big sprinters are near the front Simon Gaywood, Rüdiger Selig and Rodolfo Fernandez are around but with no decent lead outs.
Retschke decides to take a flier hoping to capatilise on the chaos.
Gaywood is showing a turn of speed as Retshcke fades, nasty moment for Ospina as he gets blocked by Eurovisions fallen German rider. Meanwhile Fernandez has reeled in the leaders.
Ospina has been taken right out of the frame for the bonifications as Gaywood romps clear chased by Fernandez, Daeninck, Grychenko and Sohrabi. Sarabia's leadout of sorts is now fading, it is strange he seems to have just led out three of Gaywoods rivals!
Coming up to the final bend and Gaywood's speed has left him, he now just has to rely on his endurance. Fernandez too seems to exerted most of his energy just getting back on terms, it is Sohrabi who is now looking to make a late late move between Grychenko and Daeninck.
For Grychenko a 1st or 2nd place here would leapfrog him over Ospina in the overall!
Gaywood has the outside line round the bend but slightly moves in to block the dangerous Fernandez, as Sohrabi breathing down his neck spurs Daeninck on.
But Gaywood just holds on over the line from Ekspla's punchaer, with Sohrabi in third place ahead of Grychenko who just misses the bonifications.
Behind a relieved Lobato cruises over the line in 23rd, having only been able to watch from afar as Ospina narrowly failed to usurp is race and points lead.
Despite struggling slightly on the last two road stages and the time trial Lobato proves the winner of the Tour of the Lowveld with a strong display on the opening three stages. Ospina and Grychenko looked dangerous particularly on stage four, but it was too late to break Pivovarna Lasko's stranglehold. Such was the Slovenian teams dominance that they took 1st, 5th and 9th on GC.
All five Het Nieuwsblads finish in the top 17, with American Express also giving yet another strong performance. There were moments in the race for Kingspan, Adecco, Eurovision and today Dyson who all take good memories away from South Africa.
