German rider Beate Zanner and Heather, riding for the Bigla Cycling team, broke away from the peloton in the early stages of the 113-kilometre fifth stage of the tour.

But despite a move on the final climb to the finish line in Schmölln she was unable to out-sprint her opponent.

“I didn’t think we would last the entire break so I’m happy to edd up second,” she said after the race

“I tried a little attack on the last climb but she was just the better rider on the day, I knew I couldn’t win a sprint.

“I’ve been sick this week so I’m pretty happy to get second."

The former Holbrook woman, now living in Wodonga, was picked up by the rookie professional team as a specialist time triallist after three seasons with the AIS team in Europe at the start of the year.

The 55-kilogram dynamo spent most of the heatwave summer on an 800-kilometre a week training program to prepare for the European season.

It was Heather's first podium finish for her new Swiss-based team.