Patrick Bevin has been taken to hospital for X-rays after a nasty crash on the Tour Down Under.

Patrick Bevin will undergo a concussion test on Sunday morning to determine whether the Tour Down Under leader is fit to start the final stage.

The Kiwi was taken to Calvary Wakefield Hospital in Adelaide on Saturday evening, after a horror crash on a dramatic penultimate day threw the 27-year-old's hopes of winning his first World Tour stage race in jeopardy.

Bevin suffered "extensive" bruising and abrasions during the crash. However, X-rays and CT scans have revealed the CCC Team rider has not broken any bones.

"Fortunately, he did not break any bones and had no internal injuries however, he has extensive bruising and abrasions all over his body," team doctor Piotr Kosielsk said.

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"Although the CT scan did not show signs of any head injuries, our main concern is concussion which is why we want to wait until tomorrow morning, when we will perform a concussion test, before making the final decision as to whether Patrick can line up tomorrow. We will continue to monitor his condition overnight."

With about 10km to go on stage five from Glenelg to Strathalbyn south of Adelaide, Bevin was knocked off his bike after a pile-up in the peloton.

Limping and with blood running from his right knee and right elbow, Bevin shrugged off the pain to get on a replacement bike, digging deep to catch up to the peloton and salvage his seven second lead over defending champion Daryl Impey of Mitchelton-Scott.

​"It was such a nervous stage and there was a battle for position all day," Bevin said. "All it took was a touch of wheels and I went down. I'm pretty banged up right now but I really hope that I will be able to line up tomorrow. Fortunately, nothing is broken so we will see how I pull up in the morning."

Kiwi George Bennett is 26 seconds back in seventh.

The stage was won by Jasper Philipsen but only after more late drama as Australian sprint ace Caleb Ewan was disqualified.

Ewan crossed the finish line in first place, but after a few minutes race judges stripped him of the victory for a head-butting incident in the chaotic last kilometre.

Before the crash, stage five had been a solid day for Bevin and Impey.

They had shared the spoils in the two intermediate sprints, with Impey beating Bevin in the first and the result reversed in the second.

That meant they gained five seconds apiece on climbers such as Australian star Richie Porte who are lurking ahead of Sunday's summit finish at Willunga.

Bevin leads Impey by seven seconds, while Porte is 26 seconds off the pace.

The New Zealander already had gained plenty of admirers after he took the race lead by winning stage two and managed to hold onto the ochre jersey.