Davison speeds to victory on iconic grand prix circuit

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Luke Davison (Budget Forklifts) won his second stage of the 2012 Tour of Gippsland on Wednesday, taking out a bunch sprint on Stage 2 held on the world-renowned Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, revered by some of the fastest men on two and four wheels.

It was a breakthrough day for the 22-year-old as he claimed his first two career Australian National Road Series stage victories following a number of close calls last season. The results were also something of a revelation, with Davison returning to racing following a horror face-plant during a recent training ride which left him with a fractured eye-socket.

"Having those three weeks off, I questioned what I was doing and where I wanted to be in two or three years," he said.

"I've come back mentally refreshed."

Davison pipped Jack Beckinsale (Team Jayco-Honey Shotz) and Alex Wohler (Team Downunder) to hold a five second general classification lead at the end of the first day of racing over Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers Professional Cycling Team).

Impressively, Drapac's Will Walker in his Australian National Road Series comeback event from tachycardia sits third on GC, 11 seconds in arrears of Davison. Walker wears the SP AusNet sprint leader jersey heading into Stage 3.

"It's good to be back," Walker said.

The peloton got underway for the 15 laps of a 4.45 kilometre loop starting on pit lane heading straight towards Bass Straight looping into Siberia, before a series of right-hand bends into the rise to Lukey Heights, and another right-hand corner to negotiate before the steady downhill run to the start-finish line.

The conditions may have been calm for the riders but the racing was anything but with plenty of attacks on the opening lap. A group of seven riders unsuccessfully attempted to force a gap early, and Malcolm Rudolph earned a small advantage. Heading into the fourth lap, the peloton was back together. With bonuses up for grabs every lap, every chance to stay away was swiftly nullified by all-too-willing chasers. Lachlan Norris (Drapac) and Dion Smith (Hot Cycles New Zealand) made a run for it with three laps remaining only to be brought to heel a lap later. Norris' efforts earned him the most aggressive rider prize for the stage.

It was no surprise when a group of 126 riders swarmed to the finish line after 66.75kms, Davison just getting the better of his younger rival, 19-year-old Beckinsale, a former runner up at the 2010 Australian U19 Criterium Championships. It was another solid result for Beckinsale's season, having finished second in the prologue individual time trial at the Tour of Thailand in April.

The Tour of Gippsland continues on Thursday with a a Moe criterium before a taxing Morwell to Yinnar road race, which features three hill climbs.

Full results