![New Zealand national champion Ally Wollaston crosses the opening-stage finish line in Campbelltown just ahead of Georgia Baker (right). Picture supplied New Zealand national champion Ally Wollaston crosses the opening-stage finish line in Campbelltown just ahead of Georgia Baker (right). Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/198551236/7e22d637-5347-4011-ae6e-80b55041ce01.jpg/r0_24_2682_2050_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Georgia Baker has swiftly transferred her top form from track to road with a podium performance in the Tour Down Under.
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The 29-year-old came second in the 93.9-kilometre opening stage from Hahndorf to Campbelltown, just behind winner Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance-Soudal) in the same time of 2:32:37.
Baker, who won national madison and omnium titles less than a month ago, was grateful for the work of her Liv AlUla Jayco teammates.
"The plan was to be the first team into the corner with a 'k' to go and we did that really well," she said. "The wind was a different direction to when we rehearsed but we adjusted.
"Georgie (Howe) went for as long as she could and then Amber (Pate) followed through then Alex (Manly) and Ruby (Roseman-Gannon) then I didn't quite have the legs in the end.
"It's quite a long sprint and the girls did really really well. I wish I could pull it off for them but I'm happy with second."
Baker finished 39th on the second stage of 104.2km between Glenelg to Stirling - the longest in the history of the women's race - to sit 32nd overall (+0.33).
Launceston's Nicole Frain (Team Australia) finished 17th in Saturday's stage to move up to 13th overall, 10 seconds off the lead.
Devonport's Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) played a key part reeling in attacks with 5km to go and finished 34th to sit 39th overall (+0.43)
Dane Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ - SUEZ) won the second stage to lead the general classification. Baker's teammate, Australian road race champ Roseman-Gannon is third (+0.03).
The fourth Tasmanian in the race, Hobart's Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek), was 92nd of the 93 finishers on the opening stage, 9:12 behind the winner, and sits last overall (+20.50).
The third and final stage of the race is over 93.4km from Adelaide to Willunga Hill on Sunday.