Today’s stage of Jayco Herald Sun Tour was an action packed 120km from Bendigo to Nagambie. Will Clarke broke away early in the day with Tyler Farrar (MTN – Qhubeka) and Mike Cumming (JLT Condor) and held off a charging peloton until just inside the final 6km. In a fast and furious finale sprint for the line, Brenton Jones went down as closed in on a podium spot, sliding across the line for 5th place. Lachlan Norris stayed out of harms way and holds 5thposition in the GC at +;23.

“Today was solid from the start with lots of attacking at the beginning. I got away at 40km with Tyler and Mike. We were working hard all day and I thought we might be able to hold it but the peloton ramped up and we made it to about 6km to go,” Clarke said. “I think we would have stayed away if that had been the case [having one more rider in the break]."

The gap was got out to 2:50 with 30 km to go, when United HealthCare then took control of the peloton. Cumming then dropped off and Farrar and Clarke were left to assert what power they had left. At 6km, the field came together, and Drapac immediately began to position for a lead out for Jones.

“Bit of a mixed fortune for the boys today after having Will Clarke in a break of three riders which went out to a maximum gap of 2:50 to then be caught in the last 6kms and then the team reloaded to help our sprinter Brenton. In the end Jones was so close to being on the podium when he clipped elbows with Sam Witmitz (Budget Forklifts). Witmitz knee and Brenton’s handlebars met and it lifted his front wheel off the ground. He fell hard only 10 meters from the line. The speed was so high that he actually slid across the finish in 5th place and came to a halt just after the line.” Agostino Giramondo, Sports Director said.

Jones, who amazingly walked away from finish with severe road rash, bruised chest and potential broken ribs was assessed post race by the doctor. He will be assessed in the morning to determine if he will continue the race.

"We were coming up the finish and Sammy Witmitz was coming a couple of kilometres faster than me and maybe half a metre there he decided to come underneath me and my left cheek just got taken out by his right hand shifter and I hit the deck after that crossed the line in sixth which is not bad on my arse.

“That is sprinting. I went down hard, so some sore ribs and chest and neck has a bit of whiplash so I will see how I feel tomorrow morning. I left some skin out there for sure. It was a solid finish and this is part of racing. I am hoping to bounce back okay.

“The ribcage, and chest and back and neck are quite sore obviously from the hard impact so we’ll see how they pull up tonight and in the morning. Now it’s just about recovery and getting back. I know the form’s good It’s a big season and I want to continue to get results for the guys this season so if it doesn’t mean tomorrow then I’ll be back next race.

Norris, who started today 5th in the GC stayed out of any trouble and held his position.

Tomorrow’s penultimate day of racing is hosted at Mitchelton Winery, a familiar fixture in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour course for many years, with the finish in Nagambie again.  A serious climb, The Highlands, sits mid-race, with a flat run into the finish. Look for those in the lead group at the top of the climb to prepare for another speedy finish straight.