Linda McCartney Foods rider Maurizio De Pasquale finished 6th on the penultimate day of the Vodacom Rapport Toer in South Africa today after being involved in a 25-man move which started 30km into the 103km stage.

Australian national team member Baden Cooke won the stage after an audacious move from the group within 1km of the finish.

De Pasquale remains leader of the race on points with teammate British star Max Sciandri also maintaining his lead in the King of the Mountains competition.

The final stage is a 60km Criterium at Green Point in Cape Town.

 1. B Cooke (Australia)            2.31.52
 2. K Diewald (Team Promix)      @    0.10
 3. D Hondo (Telekom)            @    0.00
 6. Maurizio De Pasquale


Overall:

 1. T Steinhauser (Gerolsteiner)  24.49.33
 2. A Elli (Telekom)             @    1.45
 3. V Ordowski (Gerolsteiner)    @    3.52


Points:

 1. Maurizio De Pasquale             30pts
 2. S Commeso (Saeco)                27pts
 3. R Hunter (Pro Mix)               26pts


Mountains:

 1. Maximilian Sciandri              45pts
 2. S Commeso (Saeco)                32pts
 3. D Spence (IBM/Lotus)             32pts