Top local cyclist Tyler Butterfield is placed second after four stages of the prestigious Tour de Guadeloupe, one of the most positive results of his career so far.

Butterfield, who launched his stage-racing career with French team Vendee U in last year?s tour of the French territory, was actually leading the group of more than 140 riders on the Tour after two stages.

The Olympic triathlete and Commonwealth cyclist completed the 172.9 kilometre first stage from Pointe-?-Pitre to Le Moule in four hours, 11 minutes and 15 seconds to give him a lead of 1:17 over team-mate Dimitri Champion.

In the two-part stage on Sunday, Butterfield slipped out of the lead, but still was a very creditable second place, exactly four minutes behind Martin Prazdnovsky of Slovakia after rides of 100 kilometres and 9.6 kilometres.

In last year?s Tour, Butterfield also forced his way into first place after the opening stage and prologue before finishing an impressive 21st overall in his first major foray into the tough world of top amateur stage racing.