Sir Bart repeats last year's stage win

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The Granite Gorge stage seemed to be to Bart Brentjens' liking. Like last year, the previous Olympics Winner and World Champion picked up his first Crocodile Trophy stage win on the track through the Atherton Tablelands. Also like last year, Brentjens took the stage in a sprint finish.

Austrians Rene Haselbacher and Philipp Ludescher attacked first on today's short stage from Lake Tinaroo to Granite Gorge, but on the 10km long climb onto Mount Edith, the field caught up to the elite road racers. Shortly after the lead group formed including Brentjens, yesterday's stage winner Urs Huber and Cory Wallace.

The track took racers through dense rainforest, open bush land and finally fertile banana plantations. The trio picked up a six-minute advantage over the pursuing group.

"The uphill was very tough again because of the wet and muddy terrain, but overall it was a very fast stage," said Brentjens. The Dutch rider won the final sprint, finishing the stage in 2:24:32, followed by Huber and Wallace, who crossed the finish line with three seconds each behind him.

"Today it was definitely an easier stage than yesterday. I had some trouble finding my pace, however, we worked together well, and I'm happy with my second place today," said Huber.

Cory Wallace, who is used to climbing steep ascents, was thought to have some disadvantages on today's flat last third of the stage; however, he was able to stay on the wheels of the two favourites throughout the entire day.

Aussies stick together

Abby McLennan, the Cairns-local, liked the early steep ascents followed by flats on the 71km stage through the Atherton Tablelands. The Australian secured her second stage win with a strong 28-minute lead ahead of her fellow-Aussie riders Nancy Caceres and Lauretta Howarth.

"I trained way more than in 2009. To win the Crocodile Trophy would be fantastic. But a lot can still happen," said the Rattle N Hum-athelete cautiously despite her lead in the overall classification.

Stage 2 Results

General classification after stage 2