Day 2 of the Bay Classic Series. Yesterday's race saw a brave effort by Adam Hansen, who almost claimed the win out of a late attack. But Chris Sutton overtook the fighting Aussie on the final meters and brought home a nice victory for his Norwegian-Australian team Risa-Ergon Cycling.
Today's favorites remain the same as in Geelong Criterium, so we may expect the bunch of Australian sprinters at the front again, while the likes of Arashiro, Manan, Awang or Bennett will battle them hard. Chris Sutton looked super-strong yesterday, as well as Leigh Howard and veteran semi-professional Graeme Brown, while Cameron Meyer looked a bit off form and has to do better today.
As opposed to yesterday the first attack appears relatively late: Shaun Higgerson (Orica) soloes away from the pack with the first lap to be past. The veteran, who rode for Team Dyson last season, clearly wants to prove his strength and show the PCT- and CT-managers, that they did wrong to not sign him for 2013.
A few moments later the Aussie is joined by Behnam Khalilikhosroshani (riding for Champion System). The 25 years old Iranian from CT-team Kenya-Airways is expected to be one of the stronger riders in tomorrow's hilly circuit, so he may try to strengthen his General Classification's position today.
Therefore it's not too bad to have some more breakaway-companions: With 30km remaining, yesterday's 2nd Adam Hansen, Kiwi Joseph Cooper and Tomihiro Kinoshita jump behind the leading two, quickly gapping the pack by 50".. Kinoshita's teammate Arashiro tried to follow, but his try remained short-lived.
Another lap is raced, we have still 25km to go. Several more riders broke free from the peloton and bridged the gap on the early break: Adam Phelan (Oz), James Meadley (Budget) and Team Britain's Bradley Wiggins and Steve Cummings make the breakaway an 8-men-group now, leading on the pack by 55"..
And it seems like the favorited teams rate this group as a real threat, as (above all) Team Genesys is sitting at the front of the pack and leading the bunch in a tough pursuit now. The escapees had no chance to hold on to the lead and with 10km to go, just ahead of the bell lap, the break is swallowed by the pack.
4km before finish, the pace is still too high to allow a late effort like yesterday's move by Hansen. And so it's two sprint-trains controlling the race now: Team Genesys seems to be perfectly prepared today, setting up a train for yesterday's 4th Simon Clarke. Graeme Brown and race-leader Chris Sutton took Clarke's wheel.. Team Jayco's Peter Hatton is pulling the strings ensuring his captain Cameron Meyer is in the right spot to make his move, with Leigh Howard following.
And Meyer makes his move rather early! With the finish approaching, but still more than 1km to go, the Aussie accelerates. Howard and Wes Sulzberger (Budget) jump behind, while on the left side of the road Simon Clarke had a bit more patience with his own move.
While Clarke leads the bunch kick with a few hundred meters to go, it's obvious, that Meyer can't keep his speed. He falls behind and won't battle for today's win.. it's the same names like yesterday: Clarke, an again strong Graeme Brown, Chris Sutton, Leigh Howard and Wes Sulzberger moved forward, while Kiwi Joseph Cooper and the Malaysian squad (Anuawar, Awang, Manan) are in good positions for finishing within Top-10. A strong effort by Cooper, who has already been in the breakaway.
The finish line is coming closer and Sutton looks as strong as he did yesterday! He bridged the gap to Clarke and with Howard, Brown and Sulzberger already too far behind, today's winner will be decided between those leading two!
Sutton strikes again! Risa-Ergon's sprinter claims his second victory in the Bay Classic Series and today, he eventually dominated the bunch kick. The Aussie is definitely in shape! Simon Clarke suffered on final meters and Leigh Howard grabbed the 2nd place with a late kick. Sulzberger (4th) once again finished better than his Budget-teammate Ricki Nelson (8th) and proves that his Simply Red Bull-manager can rely on him this year. And speaking of Red Bull: Graeme Brown sprinted for 5th place, another great day for the Free Agent. Cooper, Ahmad Haidar Anuawar, Yukiya Arashiro and Azizulhasni Awang complete today's Top-10.
Sutton leads the Series with 24 points and he can relax on tomorrow's hilly circuit in Portarlington, unless Howard, Simon Clarke or Brown will try their luck with a breakaway there.
Australian sprinters at the front again, while the likes of 
Arashiro, 
Manan, Awang or 
Bennett will battle them hard. Chris Sutton looked super-strong yesterday, as well as Leigh Howard and veteran semi-professional Graeme Brown, while Cameron Meyer looked a bit off form and has to do better today.
Joseph Cooper
