Bad tactics in the penultimate stage may prove costly for Finland's Kjell Carlstrom in the Tour of Tasmania, which reaches its climax in Launceston.

Carlstrom lost 15 seconds to tour leader Kristian House of England in the George Town Criterium stage to lag 27 seconds behind.

With no change to that margin in the afternoon climb to Scottsdale, Carlstrom must now re-think his strategy for the 34km Launceston Criterium final stage.

Tattersall's Cup leader Wesley Sulzberger and his nearest challenger, Robert McLachlan, from the ACT, were the big winners on Saturday, featuring in a dual quinella.

After finishing second to McLachlan in the morning, Tasmania Sulzberger reversed the placings at Scottsdale.

Sulzberger will carry a 33-point lead in the Tattersall's Cup into the final stage and must the finish line upright to ensure one of his biggest career victories.

Carlstrom allowed House to take too many time bonuses in the morning race and then missed the early break group in the afternoon and missed out on the King of the Mountain time bonuses as well.

But with three lower order riders in the breakaway group, Carlstrom still held on to win the Tamar Valley Resort King of the Mountain Championship.

The sprint championship will see Patrick Shaw of Victoria take a 17-point lead into the final stage, while in the criterium championship, Sulzberger leads McLachlan by nine points.

The final stage will include 15 intermediate sprints, which means Carlstrom will have to be on his game early to reel in House.

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