The absolute low came when Devonport’s Macey Stewart was forced out of the event due to concussion following her crash on Thursday.

The 21-year-old withdrew from the race on Friday morning.

She crashed just 300m from the finish line in what was her second major incident in a matter of weeks following her crash during the Boxing Day Criterium at Ulverstone.

The Tour Down Under signalled her return to professional racing after signing with the Wiggle High5 team. She said via an Instagram video on Friday that she was “going to try to stay positive and be back out there again soon”.

But the high came from Amy Cure who put in an outstanding performance in wet and windy conditions to finish Friday’s 102km second stage from Lyndoch to Mengler’s Hill in 12th place, which saw her move up to that position in the general classification.

TIS Racing Team captain Georgia Baker was the best of her squad in 30th place, with Maeve Plouffe 37th, Jessica Mundy 53rd, Kristina Clonan 54th and  Breanna Hargrave 65th.

Overall, Baker sits in 28th, Plouffe 37th, Mundy 46th, Clonan 52nd and Brianna Hargrave 63rd. The TIS Racing Team sits in 11th place after two stages of the four day event.

The stage was won by Uni-Sa Australia’s Katrin Garfoot, who also leads the general classification.