Ultimately, a dominant sprint saw Brad Evans (Pat’s Veg Cycling) outsprint Kiwi compatriot Joe Cooper (Avanti Racing) to win stage two and capture the six-day tour’s yellow jersey.

Despite being caught by race leader Ben Hill (CharterMason Giant) inside the final few kilometres, Evans was too powerful for the Canberran in the final straight into Penguin and grabbed a three second general classification lead.

“It was a great stage,” Evans said after the 106-kilometres through multiple world champ Amy Cure’s stamping ground.

“We had Robbie Hucker and I up there in a front group of 15 guys. Two kilometres out the yellow jersey holder Hill and his teammates got  back on, but I was sure that they had done plenty of work to get there so I was backing myself for the sprint.”

At the beginning of the day, Michael Schweizer (African Wildlife Safaris) joined an early breakaway and established a considerable lone lead, perhaps inspired by teammate Sean Lake’s solo winning effort on Wednesday.

But after the German clinched both intermediate sprints, he was brought back by the group.

Confident of his form after finishing second in the Hobart prologue, former track racer Evans put his sprinting abilities to good use to take line honours ahead of Cooper and Hucker on the seaside main street.

“I managed to hook up with Robbie on the final straight and he gave me a great lead-out,” Evans continued. “I took it on the inside and sailed away – it’s great to finish it off for the team.”

For second-placed Cooper, Avanti Racing’s primary general classifications contender after Patrick Bevin withdrew before the tour with injury, the podium placing was an unexpected bonus after a challenging stage.

“I’m not noted for my sprinting prowess,” the New Zealand road race champion joked. “It was all about positioning around that last corner – when Brad flew past I was just trying to hold on and go for it.”

Legana’s Wes Sulzberger was the only Tasmanian to finish with the leaders despite a late mechanical and is 13th overall.

Other Tasmanian riders are Jake Oliver (44th overall), Danny Pulbrook (48th), Michael Smith (62nd), Mark Jamieson (68th), Tom Robinson (69th), Harrison Musgrave (71st), Sam Calow (74th), Cuan Van Staden (81st), while Blair Austin and Will Holmes have withdrawn.

Stage three of the tour will see riders head from East Devonport to George Town over a scenic 119.9km course. The dreaded Holwell Climb provides a challenging king of the mountain point, before a fast final section suggests a sprint finish.