Neo-pro sprinter Caleb Ewan has claimed his second consecutive victory at theJayco Herald Sun Tour this afternoon.

The victory is the third in as many stages for ORICA-GreenEDGE following Cameron Meyer’s win on the first stage.

Finishing safely in the bunch, despite a nervous day littered with crashes, Meyer also retained his race lead going into the final day of racing on the Mornington Peninsula tomorrow.

It was a case of déjà vu for Ewan. The 20-year-old was again too strong in the bunch kick crossing the line ahead of Tyler Farrar on the stage three finish, a mirror of that of the previous day, in Nagambie.

“Same finish line and same result, I am really happy with both of them,” Ewan said.

“It played out a little differently. It was pretty hectic in the final with the big wide road.

“I think I was just in front of (the crashes) so luckily again today I missed them.

“I didn’t know what to think coming into the last corner because yesterday I was the first sprinter out of there and today I was a few sprinters back. It worked out actually alright, I got a pretty good lead out.

"It's great to get another win. It was pretty hectic there with a few near crashes and I am happy to come out unscathed.

"I think they feel the same," Ewan said of which win felt better. "Same finish line, same result so I am really happy with both of them. Hopefully we can do for four in a row tomorrow.

"Tomorrow is all about going for yellow."

Will Clarke (Drapac) launched an attack into the final corner, hoping to get a jump on the sprinters but Ewan explained he was never worried that it would be anything else but a bunch kick despite a different approach to the last 400 metres.

"He went pretty early and was always going to die in the end," Ewan said of Clarke. "There were some good sprinters there so I wasn't too worry about that."

It was another day of defense for ORICA-GreenEDGE, former track world champion Meyer started the day in yellow with a four second advantage and the aim was to keep it that way. Mission accomplished.

The action was fierce to make the early break with a promise of winds providing hope that it may survive to the finish.

It was not to be with a group of six escapees kept under control and brought back before the final run into the line.

Reigning champion Simon Clarke was one of a number of riders to go down in crashes throughout the day, but has avoided any major injury.

“There was a lot of nervous guys out there,” Meyer said

"I don't know what it was but it was quiet fast all day as the peloton wanted to keep the break in check for a sprint finish and a lot of teams were very eager which caused a few crashes out there. Hopefully Simon Clarke pulls up alright tomorrow because he's an important factor to our race and tactics tomorrow."

“He’s pretty banged up with a lot of skin off,” explained Meyer. “He had to sit on the back for quite a while to try and recover and get through the stage. He was on the front a little bit towards the end.

"I think he'll be allright, he's a very professional rider. It's only a 120km stage and I think you'll see him dig in deep tomorrow so we'll still have two cards to play. Even Simon Clarke with no skin, I still wouldn't be letting him go up the road. I think, ok they will be putting more emphasis on me but with Clarke, I think you'll see him tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s final stage in the Mornington Peninsula is crucial for general classification contenders.  Riders will tackle the grueling Arthur Seat climb on three occasions, including for the finale.

“I feel good,” Meyer said. “I got through the last two days relatively unscathed and without doing much.”

“I feel like I have spent as less energy as I could and I should be right to go tomorrow.

“I think it will be a tactical race, yellow is definitely first priority and if the stage is there to be taken well I will definitely sprint for that.

"The stage win on Arthurs Seat would be great but definitely first I want to keep this [yellow jersey]. I think it will be a tactical race tomorrow as there are still 21 guys within 30 seconds [of me] and if anyone of them goes up the road there will be a bit of cat and mouse. If those guys at 30 seconds start going, do I respond straight away or do I wait and defend yellow to win by ten seconds and still keep yellow?"

"With six man teams it's very hard to control," he said. "We have Caleb Ewan and a couple of lead out man so hopefully they have their climbing legs on tomorrow because I'm going to need them deep into the race as possible. You then have Avanti who have four guys within 30 seconds and they aren't going to wait until the final climb. They are going to put us under pressure to chase them so that's where I think it will be quite tactical.

"I think it will be a hard race from a long way out and will definitely be selective. I think you'll see guys dropped every lap on Arthurs Seat because the pressure being put on our team from the likes of Avanti."

"Joe Cooper is the closet but I would actually put Paddy Bevin as the biggest threat only due to his sprinting prowess. If he gets to the last 300 metres and really opens up, I really have to get onto that quite quickly. If he opens the gap and gets the stage win, that's all it's going to take [to claim the overall.]

"Joe Cooper is more of a diesel and he will go from a long way out. They have a few cards and can really draw me out and that's where I hope Simon Clarke and Damien Howson are able to nullify those attacks."