Will Clarke was hoping history would repeat with his breakaway tactic at the Tour Down Under

WILL Clarke had visions repeating history on Tuesday by winning stages using a breakaway tactic that causes mass panic among UCI WorldTour teams.

Will Clarke leads the breakaway during stage 1 of the Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed

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WILL Clarke had visions repeating history on Tuesday by winning stages using a breakaway tactic that causes mass panic among UCI WorldTour teams.

The 32-year-old Education First-Drapac breakaway specialist did it at the Tour Down Under in 2012 when he claimed the Stirling stage after leaving the pack for dead.

He also performed the same trick in other bike races before claiming the most competitive rider jersey on Tuesday when he attacked after losing out on the King of the Mountain jersey at the 38.6km mark during stage 1 from Port Adelaide to Lyndoch.

“My aim was the KOM jersey but Nicholas Dlamini (Dimemsion Data) was a bit quick for me in the end,’’ Clarke said at the Lyndoch finish line on Tuesday.

“He did a good sprint and then I hit the gas, I tried to keep everybody away but it wasn’t easy.”

The teams worked extra hard to reel in Clarke who at one stage of the race during the third lap of the Lyndoch circuit looked back before working his legs even harder with the bunch about 300m away.

“With about 30km to go I felt good,’’ Clarke said.

“When you’re alone they’ll pull you back pretty quick.

“In 2012 (here) they underestimated me and I won the stage, that’s my style of racing I’m not going to change.”