William Clarke wins 2nd stage of Tour Down Under

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - Unheralded Australian William Clarke won the second stage of cycling's Tour Down Under on Wednesday, defying the peleton in one of the boldest individual breakaways in the history of the World Tour event.

The 26-year-old Clarke was the last rider selected for the six-stage tour when he was added to the UniSA team after finishing fifth and winning the sprint classification at the Australian national road championships.

He made the best of a rare appearance in elite professional company Wednesday, first joining Switzerland's Martin Kohler in a two-man break, then leading on his own for half of the 92-mile stage from Lobethal to Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.

Clarke led an Australian sweep of the podium as Michael Matthews finished second and Simon Gerrans third.