The Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team and the rest of the peloton dealt with much milder conditions on Santos Tour Down Under: Stage 2. Temperatures reached 20 degrees celsius — as opposed to the blazing hot 40 degree celsius conditions the day before — on Wednesday morning in the 148 km race from Lobethal to Stirling. "Temperature is half of what it was yesterday," Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Matt Brammeier tweeted just before the race. "Twenty degrees seems cold." However, it appeared the peloton was too unorganized and fatigued from the previous day to deal with an early breakaway from riders William Clarke (Champion System) and Martin Kohler (BMC Pro Team).
Kohler eventually got what he wanted out of the breakaway, which was sprint points at the 23.7 km and the 62.4 km marks. He faded back and was quickly absorbed by the breakaway. Clarke, however, pushed on. An indecisive and tired peloton, including Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, didn't begin chipping away at Clarke's gap until he was well into the final 64.8 km, three lap circuit that includes a 3.5 km climb. Clarke had as much as 11 minutes and 40 seconds on the chasing field with 50 km remaining in the race.
Clarke needed 1:55 seconds on the field to get the ochre Santos Tour Down Under leaders jersey, but couldn't hold off a charging peloton for more than a minute or so by the time he crossed the finish line. BMC Racing Team Martin Kohler now holds the ochre jersey.
The Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team was not reported to be at the front chasing Clarke, and unofficial results did not list them in the top five.