On top down under

Greipel won the stage in a time of three hours, 21 minutes and 55 seconds.

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Germany's Andrew Greipel took the lead in the overall classification after a second stage win at the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under, the first stage race of the UCI World Tour for 2012. Greipel won the stage in a time of three hours, 21 minutes and 55 seconds, moving into the leader's position with a margin of 0:08.

Greipel has said that the win was important as it helped to meet team goals, but that it is unlikely he can keep the overall lead. The Lotto-Belisol team has experienced both highs and lows on the tour, with Greipel's wins on stage one and three countered by the team losing three riders to injury.

"This victory is for Jurgen Roelandts who unfortunately supports us from the hospital," said Greipel. Roelandts was injured in a crash on the first stage of the tour. "We're nearly three riders down but the rest of the team that is not injured, it has been awesome today."

Canadian Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Barracuda has so far stayed in the peloton on each stage, and sits in 33rd position, 0:20 from the leader.

Martin Kohler of Team BMC sits in second in the general classification, giving up the lead after today's stage. Australian Michael Matthews from the Rabobank squad is in third.

Greipel lead the peloton across the line to finish stage three, in Victor Harbor, Australia. Though a breakaway built a lead of almost five minutes, the peloton reeled the leaders in just before the finish.

"The one kilometre to go mark was the most important point of today's stage," said Greipel. "I told my team-mates 'I need to be in fifth or sixth position at that point'. They did a great job to put me there and I finished it off."

Tomorrow, riders will race on the BUPA Stage 4, on a 130km route from eastern Adelaide to Tanunda in the Barossa valley.