MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) " Australian Damien Howson kept the Herald Sun Tour lead on Friday after overcoming a tire puncture late in the 165.6-kilometer second stage of the four-stage race. "Trying to remain calm was pretty difficult, but I had them all around me," Howson said of his teammates. Mitch Docker gave Howson his front wheel when the Tour leader sustained the puncture. Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome's British teammate Luke Rowe won the stage with a solo breakaway for his first professional stage win since 2012. The Tour continues on Saturday with a 167.7-kilometer stage from Benalla to Mitchelton, followed by the concluding stage Sunday at Kinglake north of Melbourne.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 03, 2017 07:15 UTC