On a day when the temperature on the road topped 40 degrees, Hall mastered the testing conditions - and the scratch riders - to land a breakthrough success in the Tour.

Riding off the limit mark of three minutes, Hall not only pedaled to victory, but also recorded the fastest time.

In proving the quickest cyclist over the 74 kilometre course,ؘ Hall defied enormous odds to beat the scratch riders for the high honour.

The riders at the back of the field at the start invariably clock the fastest time in road races - and usually figure right in the finish.

However, Wagga cycling legend Barry O'Hagan said yesterday's race definitely broke the mould.

"The scratch riders failed miserably," O'Hagan said.

"I don't whether it was the heat or what, but they (scratch riders) didn't make an impression."

O'Hagan stressed Hall had ridden a superb race to win in the oppressive heat.

"He (Hall) rode away from scratch boys," O'Hagan said.

"He started off three minutes and finished four minutes in front of them (scratch riders).

"That doesn't happen very often."

O'Hagan admitted the new course for yesterday's race may have been "tougher" than anticipated.

"Maybe that was the problem," he said.

With Hall streaking to victory from Albury riders Aaron Moffat (second) and Matt Hamblin (third) yesterday, he picked up valuable points on the Tour of Two Rivers scoreboard.

The final stage of the Tour of Two Rivers will be raced at Griffith next Sunday, with no clear favourite for the title on the horizon.

Riders will be hoping for cooler and less taxing conditions in Griffith for the race to decide the Tour of Two Rivers champion.

Tour of Two Rivers

Third stage at Wagga (74km): Robert Hall (Leeton) 1, Aaron Moffat (Albury) 2, Matt Hamblin (Albury) 3, Daniel Addison (Tolland) 4, Michael Schmidt (Tolland) 5, Brendan Forsyth (Cootamundra) 6. Fastest time: Robert Hall 2:17.25