Darren Lapthorne says that his training partner Mark O'Brien will certainly hear more about his Tour of Tasmania victory in yesterday's New Norfolk to Lake Pedder stage.
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The pair, along with Lachlan Norris, often train together in Lapthorne's base in Bendigo, sharing a
friendly rivalry.
``Next week when we're training together, we'll be giving each other plenty of flak,'' Lapthorne said yesterday.
While the Drapac Professional Cycling team member clinched the 123.5-kilometre stage, O'Brien _ who spends a lot of time in Bendigo as his girlfriend lives there _ nabbed the tour leader's jersey.
The Team Budget Forklifts rider is wary of his mate, who he dubs ``The Lapthorne Express.''
Yesterday was Lapthorne's second consecutive triumph in the Derwent Valley region after he also took out Sunday's Bothwell to New Norfolk Classic.
His success in yesterday's road race was somewhat of a consolation after Drapac didn't deliver in Monday's team time trial to the top of Mount Wellington.
Before yesterday's stage, the team trailed Genesys Wealth Advisers by two minutes and 34 seconds.
``Yesterday was a really disappointing day for our team,'' Lapthorne said.
``You never want to think the tour's over but we really thought our chances were low.
``But today showed that anything can happen.''
