Tim Gudsell virtual tour leader

Oct 13th, 11. Tim Gudsell had a second day in the spotlight at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour - the Pure Black Racing Kiwi was the virtual tour leader for much of the 140km stage.

In yesterday's opening stage, Gudsell joined the successful 16 rider break in the first 10km of racing. Today it took a little longer, but again the former pro-tour rider found himself off the front of the peloton, this time with just one campanion.

"Yesterday was a really tough day on the bike and I felt like I turned myself inside out to ride to the finish in 9th place but today I was feeling really strong so when the break came I went with it."

After many early attacks, including from PureBlack's James Williamson and Glen Chadwick, the field was back together at the 30km mark.

By the time the peloton reached the feedzone after 71km, Gudsell, along with Chris Jongerwaard (Budget Forklifts) who was not in yesterday's action, was 6min out in front and the Kiwi was the virtual leader of the tour.

"Around the 35-40km mark attacks were going all the time again and as one got pulled back in I just rolled down the side of the peloton and slipped off the front, and only 1 other rider came with me," Gudsell said.

"Apparently the other GC riders thought I was another PureBlack team member and were happy to let us go. We rode quite easily for a while and found that we had built up a 3min gap so we put our foot down and rode hard for the next 15km and took it out to 6 minutes."

The duo reached a maximum time gap of over 7min before the peloton, led by SaxoBank Sungard and Drapac, got serious about reeling them in. 

With 45km to go, Gudsell's time as leader on the road ended when the gap dropped below the 2m52s General Classification deficit he had to yesterday's stage winner Rhys Pollock (Drapac).

Gudsell and Jongerwaard resisted the peloton for a while longer - with 25km to go they still had a 1min lead - but the sprinters had their eyes on stage victory and their teams worked hard to ensure they got the chance to contest the sprint.

The peloton left the duo dangling out in front until they chose to completely close the gap down 5km before the finish line in Geelong.

"As we headed into the last 40kms I was hoping for a tailwind to the finish but a cross-headwind and an undulating course made it anything but easy and we were caught with about 10kms to go."

Genesys Wealth Advisers took the initiative in the final kilometres but the day's victory in the uphill sprint went to South African rider Jansen Van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka).

Stage 2 results

1. Jansen Van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka).
2. Baden Cooke (SaxoBank) 
3. Steele Van Hoff (Genesys Wealth Advisers)
4. Thomas Palmer (Drapac Pro Cycling)

• Rhys Pollock (Drapac Pro Cyling) retained the yellow jersey.
• Full Jayco Herald Sun Tour results