The classic 70-kilometre stage of the Tour of Tasmania has become famous over the years for prospective World Tour riders planting their flag at the top of the 15km climb.

It was also the day that Chris Harper ripped apart the peloton in the crosswinds, headwinds and tailwinds.

The peloton had picked up pace after Rylee Field (GPM Stultz) went solo at the 2km mark before Blake Agnoletto (Butterfields - Appselec p/b Van D'am Racing) and stage one breakaway hero Jensen Plowright (Drapac Cannondale Holistic development team) joined Field just as the mountain loomed closer.

The break was swallowed as the experienced Team BridgeLane pushed its riders to the front to set the tempo.

World Tour bound riders Dylan Sunderland and Chris Harper (Team BridgeLane) used this moment to launch their attacks solo.

It perfectly suited Harper, using Sunderland's wheel to launch.

The South Australian had established a 20-second gap as he churned his way up the incline, never looking back.

The deficit reached over a minute back to the peloton as Harper crossed the line.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

The team in sky blue locked out the podium and took out the top-four placings.

"Our strongest team for most of the year has been overseas and some teams started to forget this team has been No.1 for a while, so we brought our strongest team to remind them all what we can do," Harper said.

Battling brutal winds that became ever more harrowing since the men's race, the women powered through the first 50 kms working well together, all taking turns on the front as they powered to the base of Mt Poatina.

As the altitude rose, Specialized Women's Racing began squeezing the peloton to thin out the numbers to just 14 riders. It was then when Justine Barrow (ATQ) saw an opening, with her attack establishing a 15-second gap.

Already discerning that Barrow's solo break carried a serious threat, Jamie Gunning (SWR) and Sarah Gigante (ATQ) were off in chase.

But it was only Gigante, the national champion, which was able to bridge across the gap successfully to her teammate in spectacular fashion.

The duo soon after battled through tormenting winds as they accelerated to the peak, further widening the gap between from Gunning.

In the end it proved to be the gifted Gigante crossing the summit of Mt Poatina for a first NRS victory.

"When Justine made the decisive move, Jamie and I were the only ones who could follow. But when I sensed Justine was tiring, I rode across. Justine and I then rolled turns together and managed to hold it off," Gigante said.

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