Fitzgerald skips Plan B to win stage

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West Australia’s Michael Fitzgerald didn’t need a Plan B on the Canberra Tour’s second stage, instead he simply outpaced his two breakaway rivals to claim victory. Fitzgerald held off Alastair Loutit (McDonagh Blake-Witness) and Brodie Talbot (search2retain-myteam2) at the end of the 109 kilometre stage to claim his first National Road Series stage win of the year.

A second trio of riders crossed five seconds behind the leaders, with Will Clarke (Genesys Wealth Advisers) beating round one winner Luke Durbridge (Jayco-Skins) and current race leader Ben Dyball (Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans) to the line. Despite giving up the five seconds and the stage victory time bonus to Fitzgerald, Dyball continues to hold the tour leader’s jersey with one stage remaining.

Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans sport director Pat Jonker admitted both the Jayco-Skins and Genesys Wealth Advisers teams worked well to pressure his race leader. "Our strategy today was to let a break go and ride tempo behind keeping it in check,” said Jonker. “This was pretty much how the race played out for us and in such tough terrain was always going to use the Team's strengths and resources up. At the end Ben and Cam our general classification riders were left to finish the race off.

"Mission accomplished today with Ben retaining the lead the team showing great depth and commitment,” he added. “We head into the final stage with just over one minute lead. We are well positioned with Cam in third too, but will need to be attentive tomorrow to close out the Tour win."

Win lands Hogan in race lead

After starting the stage in the mountains classification leaders jersey Joanne Hogan (Prime Estate) rode away from the peloton to take not just the stage win, but the overall race lead. Hogan crossed the line 1:19 minutes ahead of stage one winner Lisa Jacobs, who finished third in the same time as second placed Bron Ryan (ACTAS-NTID).

The stage victory gives Hogan a 57 second lead over Jacobs heading into the final stage. With the Canberra Tour being Hogan’s last race with the Prime Estate team the Victorian will be hoping to part ways on a high note.

Alex Carle (ACTAS-NTID), the National Road Series opening round winner, finished fourth on the stage 1:54 minutes behind which moved her into 10th place overall. Carle will leave Australia immediately after tomorrow’s final stage where she will join Colavita-Baci for a guest ride before spending much of the National Racing Calendar with Vera Bradley Foundation.

Full men's general classification to follow.

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