The New Zealand cyclist Patrick Bevin has won the second stage of the Tour Down Under in South Australia and taken the overall lead on the tour.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bevin, who rides for the Polish CCC team, avoided a crash near the finish and out sprinted some of the best cyclists in the world to take the 122km stage.
He finished just ahead of Australian Caleb Ewan and Slovakian Peter Sagan.
Because of the crash all the riders were given the same time but Bevin does get a sprint bonus.
He admits he was a little suprised by the win.
"I don't think saying hey I'm going to win stage two was ever really on the cards, but just the way the hard draggy finish I got to pick a pretty good line and once Sanchez qwas off the front it gave me a perfect springboard and I just went long and put my head down."
"Look from that position if you finish first you finish first, if you get mowed down you get mowed down, but obviously the legs were good.
Bevin has a 5 second lead over Italian Elia Viviani heading into tomorrow's 146km stage.
The tour finishes on Sunday.