Queensland teenager Jay McCarthy has wrapped up the points and best young rider classifications after finishing second on the final stage of the Toscana Terra di Ciclismo in Italy.

Racing in the Australian team colours the 19 year old also moved from seventh to fourth overall after sprinting home in second place at the end of the 167 kilometre stage from Greve in Chianti to Buonconvento.

The stage, which featured several sections of 'Strada Bianca' (white dirt road), was won by Axel Domont (FRA) who soloed across the line 30 seconds ahead of McCarthy. But the Australian managed to hang on to a five second margin on a ten-rider chase group that included tour champion, Fabio Aru of Italy.

"That was the most intense yet most fun I have had in a bike race," said McCarthy. "It helps when you have good legs and a great team."

"The peloton was not as aggressive from the start today and negotiated the conditions well,"said Cycling Australia Under 23 Men's Road Coach, James Victor. "But the attacks became more frequent as we approached each dirt section.

Eventual stage winner, Domont, launched a solo escape 30 kilometres from the finish and quickly rode out to a two minute lead.

"The final dirt section was 11 kilometres long and end four kilometres from the finish," explained Victor. "By the time the race hit that section the peloton had split into four groups with Jay sticking with the two Italian riders (including the race leader) as he knew they would have to chase Domont to protect their positions."

Ten kilometres from Buonconvento Belgian Tim Wellens attacked the front chase group and McCarthy went with him.

"They managed to bring Domont to within 40 seconds and put 25 seconds into the eight rider group being them but when they were almost back on the bitumen Wellens punctured," said Victor. "Jay kept the momentum going and made ground on Domont but the chasers made up time on him as well."

McCarthy ended the tour in fourth place overall, 25 seconds behind Aru. He secured the best young rider classification being seven seconds and four places ahead of the next best ranked under 21 rider. McCarthy dominated the points classification to claim the jersey with a total of 77 points, 25 more than his nearest rival Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ).

Only 74 of the original 143 race entrants started the final day with 38 riders pulling out during yesterday's stage because of freezing rain and hail. The conditions had also taken a toll on the Australian team with only Michael Freiberg and Damien Howson left to support McCarthy.

"Michael and Damien were looking after Jay for as long as they could stay with the group," said Cycling Australia Under 23 Men's Road Coach, James Victor. "Michael, who rode strongly for Jay yesterday, retired at the midway mark while Damien kept battling back on before being dropped around 20 kilometres from the finish."

Howson rode on to cross the line in 42nd place, 7:53 behind the stage winner, for a final overall ranking of 39th of the 58 riders who completed the tour.

"It was a very satisfying campaign in Toscana for the whole team," said Victor.

The Toscana Terra di Ciclismo is a round of the UCI Under 23 Nations Cup with Jayco-AIS riders McCarthy, Freiberg, Howson, Calvin Watson and Nick Aitken being joined by Jayco-VIS rider Eric Shepphard in the Australian team that lined up for the event.

McCarthy and Howson will now join Aitken, Aaron Donnelly, Tom Palmer and Campbell Flakemore to travel to France for the week long Tour de Bretagne Cycliste which begins on ANZAC Day. Freiberg will remain in Italy and join with Ben Grenda, Mitchell Mulhern, Adam Phelan and Watson to contest the one day Gran Premio della Liberazione in Rome on ANZAC Day.

Cycling Australia