Italian sprinter Elia Viviani has chalked up his second stage win at the 2017 Tour of Austria.

Riding for the Italian national team rather than in usual Team Sky colours, Viviani sprinted to victory on the long 226.2km stage from Wieselburg to Altheim on Wednesday.

He edged ahead of Australian Jason Lowndes (Israel Cycling Academy) in second and Belgian Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac) in third. Viviani also won stage two on Monday in Vienna.

“After such a long stage winning a sprint is great,” said Viviani. “My young team-mates had to work a lot today, it is difficult to control such a stage. My second win here is fantastic and I want more.”

Vanmarcke’s stage result means that he safely retains the overall race lead ahead of Andrea Vendrame (Italy) by 11 seconds.

Prior to the start of the UCI 2.1-ranked race, Viviani had been the focus of speculation as to whether he would be staying on at Team Sky after not being selected for either the Giro d’Italia in May, or the currently running Tour de France.

Three stage of the 2017 Tour of Austria remain, with the race concluding in Wels on Saturday, July 8, in a flat stage that Viviani is eyeing for a third win.