The 12.5 kilometres circuit is staged along Parkes Way with Lake Burley Griffin and Parlaiment House as backdrops. Canberra Tourism has much to offer a major international cycle race with the roads ideal for all forms of cycling.

It is the longest time trial in the history of the race and last year allowed World Championship bronze medallist, David George from South Africa, the opportunity to claim South Africa's second stage victory. George covered the distance at 48.4 kph. It had been a wonderful first up performance by the South African team in the race.

Raimondas Rumsas, the talented Lithuanian riding for the MROZ team went within a whisker of winning his fourth stage. It was an incredible performance and it complimented his ninth place in the World Championship earlier in the month.

It took two world class cyclists to prevent Casino Canberra's star rider Matthew Hayman from claiming his first stage win-he had to settle for third. The talented cyclists has continued to progress and won the Dutch Under 23 championship this year.