John Murphy of UnitedHealthCare has won the third stage of the Jayco Sun Herald Tour.
Stage three with Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh in the lead from team mate Chris Froome, was a 146.2km stage from Traralgon to Inverloch on the Bass Coast and featured two climbs at Boolarra after 46.9kms and Mirboo North after 61,2km with sprints at Inverloch after 113.4kms and Wonthaggi after 125.3kms.
British rider Russ Downing of JLT, Smith (KRD), Bonello (STG), Hubbard (DSR) and Hill (ATG) were in the first break of the day and on flat roads, they soon had a lead of 3.13.
After 27kms, they were 3.48 ahead and 4.15 when Tom Hubbard beat Downing over the first climb and 3.34 ahead when they started the second climb which Russ Downing won ahead of Hubbard.
The break of 5 were 2.30 clear as they entered Leongatha with 76kms gone but were three minutes ahead after 91kms.
With the sprint approaching, Team Sky upped the pace from the peloton and the gap dropped to 1.30. Ben Hill took the sprint ahead of Downing and Hubbard and then the second sprint ahead of Hubbard and Downing to put him in the lead in the sprints competition.
Smith then attacked off the front whilst two of the breakers dropped back to the peloton who were now only 49 seconds behind. With nine kilometres to go, the break was caught and the bunch sprint was on.
Up came John Murphy of UnitedHealthCare and he took a surprise win in a photo finish in 3.20.52 ahead of Bonifazio, Steel Van Hoff of One Pro Cycling, Kerrison and Giacoppo.
Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh retains his lead going into the final stage with a thirteen second margin over Chris Froome and thirty one seconds over Jack Bobridge.
Source: DSG
