Stuart O’Grady won Friday's stage five individual time trial of Australia's Jayco Herald Sun Tour and took back the race leader’s yellow jersey, which he is likely to hold until the end of the week-long race.

O’Grady started the day four seconds down on his CSC - Saxo Bank teammate Lars Bak, but after charging around the undulating 16km time trial course in the Yarra Valley he now holds a 17 second gap over Bak with Toyota-United’s Ben Day in third place overall at 19 seconds behind.

Even the 35-year-old South Australian was tipping Bak, the overnight leader, for the win having sent his wife a text message in the morning saying he thought he would finish third.

“To be honest I would have put all my money on Lars Bak,” O’Grady said.

“I can pull a good prologue out every now and then, mainly in the Tour de France when I’m in peak condition, but that is probably the first time trial I’ve actually ever won and it’s a nice time to pull it off.”

With hardly a flat section of road on a testing out-and-back course around the TarraWarra Winery, Day started as one of the favorites but ended up the bride’s maid just three second behind O’Grady.

Bak finished fourth, 20 second back, with the surprise performer in third Bernard Van Ulden of the American Jelly Belly team who finished just six seconds behind O’Grady.

Saying he didn’t believe the race was over yet, O’Grady didn’t hold back in his assessment of what taking the yellow jersey into the final day means to him.

“I’m absolutely rapt and extremely proud,” O’Grady said. “This is the oldest and most prestigious cycle race in Australia.

“It’s got a lot of history and a lot of great names, probably all the best Australian riders in our history and I’m just extremely proud to have my name etched alongside those guys.”

O'Grady said with the benefit of hindsight he may not have been so aggressive in the opening couple of days but it was his experience that made the difference.

“It was just pure mind over matter and a lot of experience,” O’Grady said.

“I knew the course was super hard. I rode it a few times and I know a lot of others guys only did it once. I did it three times (before the stage).

“I really tried to just hold a steady pace up the first climbs and not lactic over the top. On the way back it was just absolutely full gas.”

On the final stage in Lygon Street Saturday O’Grady’s teammate Brad McGee will be the sentimental favorite in his final race before becoming a team director at CSC - Saxo Bank.

Despite the romance of a McGee victory in Melbourne O’Grady said they don’t want get too greedy and just want to get across the line in what is “our little Champs Elysees — Australian style”.

As for the next step in the career of arguably Australia’s most decorated cyclist, O’Grady pulled no punches in outlining his plans and what keeps him motivated.

“All I want to win is Paris-Roubaix. That’s the only race I really care about. That’s where my obsession is now,” O’Grady said.

“I’ve still got the motivation of a 25-year-old. I love the competition, I love the racing and I love inflicting pain on others.”

Cyclismo Bendigo King of the Mountains Classification
1. Matt WILSON Team Type 1 40
2. Chris JONGEWAARD Panasonic 30
3. Hugo SABIDO Barloworld 24

Budget Forklifts Sprint Points Classification
1. Matthew GOSS CSC 22
2. Dominique ROLLIN Toyota-United 22
3. Stuart O’GRADY CSC 20

Make it Happen in Provincial Victoria Under 23 Classification
1. Wesley SULZBERGER SAI 12:51:13
2. Marco CORTI SAI BAR at 1.12
3. Adam SEMPLE SAI at 2.21

‘Go for your life’ Teams Classification
1. Barloworld (Italy) 38:32:20
2. SouthAustralia.com-AIS (Australia) at ..43
3. Drapac Porsche (Australia) at 2.29