Joe Cooper repeats Rottnest Island victory in Tour de Perth

Avanti Racing Team's Joe Cooper went back-to-back on Rottnest Island by winning the time trial and taking control in the overall classification of the Woodside Tour de Perth. In the 2013 edition of the race, the time trial victory set up overall victory in the National Road Series opener.

"It feels pretty good, definitely as exciting as last time," Cooper said after the race.

"It hasn't really sunk in at the moment, after yesterday I was pretty disappointed with allowing that much of a time gap to the leaders. I wanted to give myself the best chance today and wanted to still be a threat."

The reigning Oceania time trial champion clinched the race against the clock with a time of 24:09, 46 seconds ahead of fellow kiwi Michael Vink (Budget Forklifts) while teammate Mitchell Lovelock-Fay rounded out the podium, one minute and eight seconds in arrears.

Cooper began the day 1:07 behind race leader Tim Roe (Budget Forklifts) but his dominant display saw him become the new race leader with a four second lead over Roe and 30 seconds ahead Lovelock-Fay with one stage remaining.

"Even I think how much time I made up today is pretty crazy. I was pretty confident that I had won the stage, but while you're waiting you're never sure if you can catch the GC leaders and one after the other they kept finishing and I was still in the lead, my heart was racing as much then as it was when I was racing," Cooper said.

"We [Avanti Racing] definitely want a bunch sprint for tomorrow, there are no time bonus' on offer so my job is pretty easy. I cant let anyone get away."

"The Avanti team is rock solid."

Cooper sat in the hot seat for most of the race, having set out on the 20km ride well before Roe, who was last to test his legs and managed to slot into fourth place.

The Tour concludes Saturday, March 29 with a road race at Perry Lakes.

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