The second and final stage of the Women's Herald Sun Tour was shortened 30 km from its original starting point at the Falls Creek ski resort due to safety concerns because of expected rain and storms.

Race organizers made this decision ahead of time due to rain and storms forecast for the morning of Thursday's stage. It certainly appeared to be the right decision when rain began to fall shortly after the finish of the second stage of the men's race at Falls Creek, won by Sunweb's Jai Hindley.

The racers dismounted in team cars and began the stage at Mount Beauty.

"Everyone is a little nervous after the crash in the rain at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Saturday," women's race director John Trevorrow told reporters, including Cycling News, before the stage start. 'There's never been a road as slippery as this one. We've had days of dry weather, and then when it rains a little bit, it gets very slippery.

"So we had to make a decision early. We still have two sprints to go and two QOMs. So it could be a fast and furious race for just under 50km."

Defending champion Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton Scott) remains one of the favorites to win, but overnight leader Arlenis Sierra (Astana) is likely to lose the lead to the climbers.

Kennedy's rivals were expected to possibly attack on the first descent in an attempt to catch the Australian climber before the final climb, but the contenders for the crown will now have to time their attacks on a much shorter stage.

"Looking at the weather, I think canceling the descent was a safety consideration," Kennedy told Cycling News. The climb was always going to be the main part of the stage, so that's staying the same and I don't think anything will change significantly." [To be honest, I think the descent probably stayed with the group for the most part. It's a pretty short race today, 40-plus kilometers, so the climb back will be "on," she said."