Kaohsiung, Taiwan - Shawn Milne of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis wasn't even supposed to be in Taiwan. Milne was sent to the Far East as a last minute replacement for teammate John Murphy, who fractured his hip just over a week ago.

But from that cloud, Milne has definitely found a silver lining. Or perhaps, more appropriately, yellow. Milne finds himself wearing the leader's jersey of the Tour of Taiwan after making the most of a final-lap attack in the opening stage to solo in to win the 88 km circuit race.

Milne was part of a 15-rider break that also included teammates Frank Pipp and Matt Crane, that rolled away from the main field with 15 laps of the 2.2 km circuit remaining.

With seven to go, the break fractured, with Milne in the front group along with Australian National Road Champion Darren Lapthorne (Drapac Porsche) and three other riders. In the closing laps, the attacks came fast and furious. With one lap to go, Lapthorne put in one last blast but was caught. Milne took the opportunity to counter and opened up a gap which he held to the finish, with three of his break-mates finishing 11 seconds back, while the field rolled in at 19 seconds behind the stage winner.

"The guys rode aggressively all day," said Health Net Presented by Maxxis assistant directeur sportif Mike Tamayo. "They rode very well together."

The Tour of Taiwan continues Monday with the 80 km Pingtung Criterium.

Notes

Both Milne and Pipp took intermediate bonus sprints in the last 15 laps while they were in the break. The three second bonus put Pipp in the 6th overall position, despite finishing 91st on the stage, at the tail end of the main bunch.

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