Great Britain's Richard Lang produced an impressive top ten finish in sweltering conditions at stage one of the 2013 Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia.
Lang came in at the front of the peloton for 10th position with Australian Aaron Donnelly sprinting to the win from a three-man break as Great Britain’s riders were tested for over four hours in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Six minutes back from the peloton, British Cycling Olympic Academy Programme riders Simon Yates and Alistair Slater came home in 53rd and 54th respectively on the 147.7 km route from Sunbury to Bendigo, with organisers starting the stage two hours earlier than scheduled due to the blistering temperatures.
Sam Lowe, on his first year with the Academy, recorded a 95th place finish with Graham Briggs 96th. Chris Latham, another rider in his first year with the Academy, was forced to drop out.
The result leaves Lang in 23rd in the general classification, three minutes and nine seconds down on leader Aaron Donnelly. Great Britain sit 11th in the best team classification.
Saturday’s stage two takes riders from Mitchelton Winery to Healesville over 146.6km including two climbs. The 60th edition of Australia’s oldest stage race finishes on the 6 January.
Results - Full results
1. Aaron Donnelly 4:04:36
2. Calvin Watson st
3. Josh Atkins st
10. Richard Lang GBR 2.35
53. Simon Yates GBR 8.38
54. Alistair Slater GBR st
95. Sam Lowe GBR 34:03
96. Graham Briggs GBR 34:03
Chris Latham GBR DNF
Race timetable
Thursday 3 January 2013 - Prologue 4.8km - Williamstown
Friday 4 January 2013 - Stage 1 -147.7km - Sunbury to Bendigo
Saturday 5 January 2013 - Stage 2 - 146.6km - Mitchelton to Healesville
Sunday 6 January 2013 - Stage 3 - 93km - Moonah Links to Arthurs Seat
