Turbo Durbo Tears Up Tour of Tas

WAIS Junior World Champion cyclist Luke Durbridge has claimed the second stage of the Tour of Tasmania after out lasting his competitors in a group sprint to the line.

Durbridge riding for the Jayco-AIS team launched a break away with 2.5 km of the tough 53.7km course to go, and managed to maintain his slender lead to the line for his first stage win in the tour, after claiming a second place last year.

The race from Spreyton included three category three climbs and the tough category two “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 one, Bernard Sulzberger.

Durbridge was supported manfully by his Jayco-AIS team which included fellow WAIS scholarship holder Adam Semple.

WAIS head cycling coach Darryl Benson said that Durbridge had summed up the race situation well and taken his chance.

“Luke’s race tactics were spot on, he summed up the challenge and broke away with 2.5 to go and was able to hold them off,” Benson said.

“The next step now is to try and win another stage and give himself a real chance of a strong overall finish, if it suits his team’s tactics.”

“He has had an excellent year and it shows that his development is coming along really well, stage wins are always special,” Benson said.

The Tour of Tasmania is a ten stage race from Devonport to Westbury finishing on Sunday 4 October.