So far, the Australian summer has been a bad one for Jayco Aroura. After winning the women's Bay Cycling Classic and the men's and women's national criterium championships, the Australian WorldTour team lost the men's and women's road race, the time trial championships, and the Schwalbe Classic criterium in Adelaide.

The second stage of the Women's Tour Down Under finally brought victory to their home country. Alex Manley won the sprint from a solo ride by Amanda Spratt (Trek-Segafredo) and clinched the victory just 500 meters from the finish line.

"It was a hard stage all day and there were a few happenings. Luckily, everything worked out." The stage winner and new overall leader said after celebrating with her Jayco Alura teammates.

"It was so special. There were so many friends and parents at the finish line. I was really happy."

Teammate Ruby Roseman-Gannon played a key role in Manly's victory, attacking from the chase just before flamme rouge and chasing Spratt, forcing Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) to chase her.

"If Ruby had gotten away there, I would have been thrilled with her win. Ruby and I had talked about this and we knew that if we did that she would pull away. So if one of us was on wheels to cover it, we had a perfect lead going into the finish," Manley said, explaining how the team tactic worked.

Georgia Williams (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) finished second in the sprint, adding to Manley's enthusiasm.

"I was so excited to finish with the girls. Also, my best friend Georgia Williams came in second, so when I found out she was second, I thought, 'Yeah,' and that made me even happier," Manley said.

Manley, who entered the third and final stage of the Women's Tour Down Under in the ochre jersey, had an eight-second lead over Brown and Williams, with Roseman-Gannon in fourth by 13 seconds and Spratt in fifth.

Manley and Roseman-Gannon worked together to defend their overall lead, leaving both riders free to fight for the win.

"I think the numbers will work in our favor. Trek will certainly put pressure on us, but we'll do our best to keep the jersey," Manley said.

"Ruby and I are very similar riders, so we can always back each other up. If she gets over the hill before me, I don't stress because I know she can beat the climbers."

"I'm pretty happy to be in this position.