Brown fights back for stage win

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After missing a podium finish on the opening stage Graeme Brown fought back to claim victory in the second Smokefree Perth Criterium race. Brown may have finished fourth on the opening stage, but his victory sees the Rabobank professional claim the race leader jersey from Cameron Meyer.

The open men's race started with an attack and rarely dropped under 50 kilometres per hour in stage two of the Smokefree Perth Criteriums. Despite a flurry of concerted attacks, the main bunch was still together with two laps remaining. New Zealand rider Logan Hutchins broke with two laps to go, but the field was too strong, bringing him back with just 500 metres to go.

Travis Meyer led out from the last corner but couldn't hold off the strong sprinters as Brown swung across the road to take victory. Local sprinter Carlo Barendilla finished strong in second place just ahead of Travis Meyer.

Last night's winner Cameron Meyer finished fifth but it was not quite high enough to hold onto the overall lead. Brown was awarded the leader's jersey ahead of tomorrow's penultimate criterium.

Sunday's stage in Victoria Park is traditionally a tough race. Cameron Meyer won the race two years ago in a two-man breakaway.