Durbridge lives up to promise with stage two win

Image 1 of 17

Around this time last year, teenage West Australian Luke Durbridge gave a hint of things to come when he finished second on a stage of the Tour of Tasmania. He lived up to his promise with a junior world champion title, and further confirmed his talents with a stage victory in Mole Creek on Tuesday.

The 53.7km race from Spreyton included three category 3 climbs and the tough category 2 "Heartbreak Hill." 18-year-old Durbridge was one of 14 breakaway riders who put time into the large chasing peloton, a portion of the field that included the tour leader from stage 1, Bernard Sulzberger.

The afternoon stage also included plenty of narrow windy descents and not every rider managed to escape unhurt. West Australian Anthony Giacoppo miscalculated one left hand turn and ended up in the bushes before he was transported to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone and his tour over.

Sulzberger was able to rally his Fly V troops around him over the closing 15 km and bridged the gap to ensure he stayed in the tour's prized leader's jersey.

Second home behind Durbridge was talented South Australian Gene Bates, while third was another Adelaide based rider in Rohan Dennis.