Freire was able to outsprint a group of 12 to claim the stage win.

Key Tour hopefuls Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Australian Michael Matthews came in fifth and sixth respectively to remain in the top 10 in the overall classification.

The Tanunda crowd was boosted by the more than 7000 riders who took part in the BUPA Challenge for the general public prior to today's leg for the professionals.

The official results BUPA Stage 4 2012 Tour Down Under:

1:Oscar Freire (ESP) - KAT

2:Gerald Ciolek (GER) - OPQ

3:Daniele Bennati (ITA) - RNT

4:Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) - SKY

5:Michael Matthews (AUS) - RAB

6:Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) - MOV

7:Luke Roberts (AUS) - SAX

8:Kristijan Koren (SLO) - LIQ

9:Sergey Lagutin (UZB) - VCD

10:Heinrich Haussler (AUS) - GRM

General Classification BUPA Stage 4:

1:Martin Kohler (SUI) - BMC

2:Michael Matthews (AUS) - RAB @ 0:02.

3:Oscar Freire (ESP) - KAT @0:02.

4:Gerald Ciolek (GER) - OPQ @0:06

5:Simon Gerrans (AUS) - GEC @ 0:08

6:Daniele Bennati (ITA) - RNT @0:08

7:Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) - SKY @0:08

8:Jan Bakelants (BEL) - RNT @08

9:Eduard Vorganov (RUS) - KAT @ 0:08

10:Rohan Dennis (AUS - SA) - UNA @ 0:09.

Martin Kohler (SUI) - BMC was surprised to take the lead.

“I didn't expect to be back in the lead but we dropped Andre Greipel in the climb and then we were riding hard to make the gap bigger,” Kohlerr said.

“It's going to be very hard and I don't know if I can keep this lead or not but I'm already happy with what I'm doing here. Our team BMC feels at home with all the support we get but of course we are the team of Cadel Evans.”

Michael Matthews (AUS) - RAB is a man on a mission.

“The jersey I want is Ochre,” he said.

“It's unfortunate that I missed it today by only two seconds. Not having the jersey today takes a lot of pressure off you but it's also better to be ahead of everyone else.”