Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEDGE) made it two in a row for himself and his Orica-GreenEDGE team by defending his win in the Portarlington criterium, the third round of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic, just one day after teammate Matthew Goss' victory in the Eastern Gardens Criterium. Having spent more than half of the race in a two-rider breakaway with Patrick Shaw (Satalyst), he beat his companion in the final sprint while day 1 winner Zakkari Dempster (SASI) escaped from the peloton to take 4th and reclaim the leader's jersey from Goss.

During the first two races in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic, it has been a common perception that Luke Durbridge was the strongest rider in the four-race series, with the Australian champion making it into the decisive 7-rider breakaway on day 1 and attacking tirelessly on day two before leading out teammate Matthew Goss for the win. Today he once again underlined his status and strength when he defended his win in the penultimate round of the series, the Portarlington criterium.

Having already finished in the top 2 in the race twice in a row, Durbridge went into the race with strong ambitions to defend the win in the race that is seen as the hardest in the series. From the gun, he was one of the most aggressive riders and he made it into the 11-rider group that eventually escaped.

Durbridge was joined by his Orica-GreenEdge teammate Mitchell Docker, Patrick Shaw, day 1 winner Zakkari Dempster, Marc Williams (Budget Forklifts), Graham Briggs (Rapha Condor JLT), Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT), Cameron Bayly (health.com.au), Josh Taylor (Charter Mason), Ryan Cavanaugh (Jayco VIS) and Mark O’Brien (Satalyst Giant) in the move but with several different interests represented, there was no big cooperation. Sensing the imminent capture, Durbridge decided to give it a go again and only Shaw was able to stay on his wheel.

While the 9 remaining escapees were all caught, Durbridge and Shaw worked well together. With none of them being known for the sprint prowess, both were confident in their chances in a final dash to the line and so were keen to commit themselves to the breakaway.

With Durbridge being in outstanding form ahead of his defence of his road race and time trial championships and his Orica-GreenEDGE team doing their best to disrupt the chase, there was no way that anyone would catch the duo. Once stretching their lead to more than a minute, Durbridge and Shaw were set to decide the race in a two-rider sprint. Durbridge proved his strength by beating his companion in the final dash to the line to win the race for the second consecutive year and finish in the top 2 for the third time in a row.

Despite the win, it was a bittersweet day for Orica-GreenEDGE. Knowing that he had little chance to go up against overall leader Matthew Goss in a sprint, day 1 winner Dempster decided to play it aggressively in the finale. The NetApp-Endura rider who rides under the SASI banner in the series, attacked on his own and tried in vain to bridge across to the two leaders.

While that mission was never accomplished, he was joined by Tom Scully (Total Rush / Hyster Racing) after a little while and that proved to be crucial in the battle for yellow. The duo managed to stay away to the finish and although Dempster was unable to beat his companion in the sprint for 3rd, his 4th place was enough to reclaim the leader's jersey.

Goss had been dropped on the tough circuit and was unable to score any points for the overall standings. Instead, it was defending champion Caleb Ewan (Subaru NSWIS) who beat 2nd placed Brenton Jones (Procon Telematics') in the sprint from the very decimated peloton to take 5th.

This sets up a very exciting conclusion to the four-race series. Dempster may be back in yellow but five riders are within 5 points of the overall lead. With 12 points on offer for the win in tomorrow's final race in Williamstown which is a more traditional, sprinter-friendly criterium, there is still all to play for in the opening race in the Australian summer season.

Result:

1. Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEDGE) 1.00.35

2. Patrick Shaw (Satalyst)

3. Tom Scully (Total Rush/Hyster Racing) +0.19

4. Zakkari Dempster (SASI) +0.34

5. Caleb Ewan (Subaru NSWIS) +0.55

6. Brenton Jones (Procon Telematics')

7. Robert McCarthy (SASI)

8. Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE)

9. Graham Briggs (Rapha Condor JLT)

10. Joseph Lewis (Total Rush/Hyster Racing)

General classification:

1. Zakkari Dempster (SASI) 21

2. Brenton Jones (Procon Telematics') 20

3. Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEDGE) 18

4. Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) 17

5. Caleb Ewan (Subaru NSWIS) 16

6. Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE) 14

7. Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT) 13

8. Patrick Shaw (Satalyst) 10

9. Graham Briggs (Rapha Condor JLT) 10

10. Tom Scully (Total Rush/Hyster Racing) 8

Sprints classification:

1. Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT) 14

2. Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEDGE) 13

3. Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE) 4

4. Thomas Hamilton (Jayco VIS) 4

5. Patrick Shaw (Satalyst) 4

Teams classification:

1. Orica-GreenEDGE 49

2. SASI 31

3. Rapha-Condor JLT 23

4. Procon Telematics' 20

5. Subaru NSWIS  16