Battle on the Border: Jesse Kerrison wins bunch sprint

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BudgetForklift's Jesse Kerrison claimed stage two honours at the Battle on the Border in a fast bunch sprint after a breakaway of four were caught inside the final five kilometres of the 128 kilometre stage.

Kerrison won the stage ahead of Daniel Fitter (CharterMason) and Neil van der Ploeg (Avanti Racing).

"At the start of the year I set myself a goal to win a stage I didn't think I could win and that was it, so to win it is just amazing," said Kerrison. "With about 20km to go there is a section of four climbs which is heartbreaking really but I managed to get over it them in the top ten.

"Coming into the finish, there was a corner with 800 metres to go and all the boys got us to the front. Tommy [Nankervis] did the last 500m and Myron [Simpson] got me to 150m to go which was just amazing."

Stage one winner Mark O'Brien finished comfortably in the bunch to retain his race lead.

"For me it was pretty cruisey, for my team it was a pretty hard stage, they did a great job riding on the front all day and managed to bring all the breakaways back for a bunch sprint," O'Brien said. "The time trial tomorrow will be the real test. I'll give it 100% and see what happens tomorrow."

144 riders set out for the race in humid but wet conditions in the northern New South Wales town of Murwillumbah with punchy climbs and technical descents scatted throughout the course making it difficult for a breakaway to establish.

After numerous attacks and short breaks, a group was established at 73km mark. Daniel Barry (Budget Forklifts), James Hepburn (health.com.au-Search2Retain), Jackson Mawby (Satalyst Giant), Josh Berry (Cellarbrations) and Chris Jory (GPM Stulz) earned a two minute advantage before the peloton began to chase in earnest.

Berry and Jory broke free from their escapee companions on the slippery descent before being joined by Mawby and Barry. The quartet maintained a one-minute advantage for 15 kilometres before eventually re-joining the peloton.

Saturday is a double staged day split with a 9.3km time trial in the morning and a criterium in the afternoon.

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