The windy McLaren Vale course, leading up to the Willunga climb via the coast, made for a tough day for race leader James Whelan and Team Bridge Lane in the Santos Festival of Cycling.

In the end, however, they not only took first place, but second as well, with Matt Dyham moving up in the standings while helping Whelan to victory.

Add to that Dinham's Young Rider of the Year award and the team category win, and it is hard to imagine a better result for the Continental team in the National Road Series, which was held in place of the canceled World Tour event, the Tour Down Under.

"The team was unreal today," said Whelan in an interview with the Santos Festival of Cycling immediately after the race.

"We were at the front all day dealing with attacks and crosswinds. Every time I got attacked by a crosswind, I reset and got back to the right tempo.

For the former EF Education Nippo athlete, whose goal is to return to the World Tour, the work of his 21-year-old teammate made it easier.

"Matt Dinham set the tempo for me and made sure the guys back there didn't catch up to me. After that it was very simple. After that it was very simple, just take the wheel and win.

Angus Lyons (ARA Pro Cycling Sunshine Coast) took the stage win from a breakaway that dominated stages 1-7. Meanwhile, second-placed Ben Hill (CCS Cycling) dropped back on the climb and Team Garmin Australia's Luke Plapp and Richie Porte jumped out.

Chris Harper of Jumbo Visma, who raced with Villawood at the Santos Festival of Cycling, started 33 seconds behind Whelan and 6 seconds behind Dinham.

"I made sure I got rid of most of the GC riders and then it was just Chris Harper at the end. "Obviously I lost him [Whelan] a little bit at the top, so I dropped back to encourage him. He was comfortable with that lead."

As a result, Dinham finished 11th with Harper and Richie Porte steering.

Second in GC and the Best Young Rider jersey at the Santos Festival of Cycling belonged to the versatile Dinham, who is also a mountain biker.

"I think he [Dinham] was the strongest on that climb. 'He's an absolute talent. He's a young rider, and he's the reason we were able to run at the front like that when we were up there in GC.