(REUTERS) - Australian cyclist Simon Gerrans stayed out of trouble in Sunday's final stage to finish ahead of compatriot Cadel Evans and become the first rider to win the Tour Down Under for a third time.

German sprinter Andre Greipel won the 18-lap race around the 4.75km street circuit in Adelaide for his 16th tour stage win.

Going into the last stage, 2006 and 2011 winner Gerrans held a one-second lead over 2011 Tour de France winner Evans and was five seconds ahead of Italian Diego Ulissi.

The overall standings for the top three remained unchanged after the sixth and final stage of the race in and around Adelaide.

Winning the title with his Australian team Orica-GreenEdge on the country's national day made it a special occasion for the 33-year-old rider.

"I've got my third Tour Down Under win thanks to an outstanding team," a jubilant Gerrans told reporters.

"This is an Australian team, on Australia Day, in a WorldTour event, what else could I ask for?"

Evans and Ulissi both needed time bonuses to wrest the lead from Gerrans but a three-man breakaway took the extra seconds available at two intermediate sprints during the 85.5km stage.

Orica-GreenEdge controlled the race superbly as Gerrans pointed out after his victory.

"It's been a hard race for me and my team mates," Gerrans said. "It's been difficult to get the Ochre jersey back, what a tough week.

"I was confident in my team mates to take me home safely, which they did today. Until I crossed the line, I suspected that Diego Ulissi would try and do something, but it went all right."

Evans was happy with his start to the year.

"I took my best judgment on the road so I have to be satisfied with how it went," the BMC Racing team rider said.

"We prefer to win, that's what we're hard-wired to win. But to lose by one second shows that we're in a good way."