Thursday, 31 January 2019:

Lucy Kennedy has snared the biggest win of her short cycling career, taking the overall title at the Herald Sun Tour.

The former runner and triathlete broke away on the crucial gravel climb and then rode the last 15km of Thursday's second stage by herself to claim the win.

That also gave the 30-year-old climber the overall crown.

Capping a big month for the Australian Mitchelon-Scott women's team, their leader Amanda Spratt finished second in the stage to make it one-two overall result.

It consigned last Saturday to history, after Kennedy and Spratt had to settle for second and third at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race.

Arlenis Sierra had ridden away from Kennedy and Spratt ran out of time to first bridge across to her teammate and then catch the speedy Cuban.

There were no such problems on Thursday, with Mitchelton-Scott executing their plan to perfection.

The peloton split in cross-winds during the 91.5km stage that started and finished in Churchill.

A select group hit the decisive climb and first Spratt went on the attack, with Kennedy and defending champion Brodie Chapman (Team Tibco) the only riders able to stay with her.

Then Kennedy countered for the second part of the one-two punch and stayed clear to the finish.

She finished 39 seconds ahead of Spratt, who outsprinted Chapman for second place on the stage.

Kennedy beat Spratt by 36 seconds overall and Chapman was another nine seconds behind for third on general classification.

"It's awesome to be able to cross the line and go and hug Gerry (Ryan, their team owner)," Kennedy said.

"This is by far my biggest win in Australia ... it feels amazing."

Spratt, who capped the best year of her career by claiming silver last September at the world road championships, has also made a strong start to 2019.

She won a race in the Bay Crits, was runner-up at the road nationals and then won the Santos Women's Tour for the third straight year.

AAP