Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) has moved into the overall lead in the 2015 Jayco Herald Sun Tour after winning stage 1 in Bendigo this afternoon.
Meyer beat New Zealand national champion Joe Cooper (Avanti) in a two-up sprint after the pair escaped from a 21-rider lead group which had formed early in the stage. Cooper’s teammate and compatriot Patrick Bevin finished third at the head of the chase group.
An early climb up the steep side of Mount Macedon saw the 21 leaders get away inside the first 20km of the stage, with the likes of Meyer, Cooper, defending champion Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge), Damian Howson (Orica-GreenEdge), Robert Power (U23 National Team), Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka) and Franco Pellizotti (Androni-Giocattoli) among the big names.
By the second climb of the day, Mount Alexander, the leaders had a gap of more than eight minutes, and by the time 100km had been covered, the peloton had sat up and the leaders’ advantage was out beyond 12 minutes.
Cameron Meyer and Joe Cooper escaped from the lead group inside the final 10km and held on to finish 10 seconds clear of the chasers.
“There was lots of attacks in the end and I just had to bide my time for the right move,” Meyer said. “I love that sort of race. Twenty guys, sort of like it used to be on the track with the points race, trying to judge when to make that move and I made the right one.”
“I brought an Avanti guy [with me] which was perfect and he didn’t want to give me a turn in the last 10km which I got a little bit angry with,” Meyer admitted. “But I still managed to have enough in the end to win so I’m really happy.”
Cooper explained why he wasn’t assisting Meyer with the pacemaking: “The plan was to try and keep it together for a bunch kick for Paddy [Bevin].”
The peloton, which included overnight leader Will Clarke (Drapac), ended up finishing more than 25 minutes behind Meyer and Cooper. The result sees Cameron Meyer move into the lead in the general classification, four seconds ahead of Joe Cooper and 15 seconds ahead of Patrick Bevin.
With such a large time gap between the lead group on today’s stage and the peloton, the overall winner of the race will come from today’s 21-strong breakaway. But Meyer has no shortage of challengers within that group, including Joe Cooper.
“[It will be] A hard week now,” Meyer admitted. “Simon Clarke did it last year and we’d love to do it again. It’s still very close in the overall standings.
“I went and checked out Arthurs Seat,” Meyer said, referring to the last stage of the race. “I know that’s a hard hill but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
The Jayco Herald Sun Tour continues tomorrow with a 123.6km stage from Bendigo to Nagambie which should end in a bunch sprint, despite a few short climbs along the way.
Herald Sun Tour
Stage 1
: Mt Macedon > Bendigo
Thursday 5th February (2015)
Classification: 2.1
Category: Int. Men
Distance: 156.9km
Stage Result
| 1. |  |
MEYER Cameron
Orica GreenEDGE
|
03:29:47 |
| 2. |  |
COOPER Joseph
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 3. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:10 |
| 4. | |
CLARKE Simon
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 5. |  |
SUMMERHILL Daniel
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 6. |  |
PELLIZOTTI Franco
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 7. |  |
PAUWELS Serge
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 8. |  |
FERGUSON Grant
|
- |
| 9. | |
HOWSON Damien
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 10. | |
CANTY Brendan
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 11. | |
MORTON Lachlan
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 12. | |
EUSER Lucas
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 13. | |
POWER Robert
|
- |
| 14. | |
DAVIES Scott
|
- |
| 15. | |
TORCKLER Michael
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 16. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
- |
| 17. | |
COOPER Mitchell
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 18. | |
O\' BRIEN Mark
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 19. | |
JONES Chris
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 20. | |
NORRIS Lachlan
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 21. | |
SHAW Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 22. | |
CULLAIGH Gabriel
|
21:06 |
| 23. | |
EDMONDSON Joshua
|
- |
| 24. | |
CLEMENTS Alex
|
25:38 |
| 25. | |
CARPENTER Harry
|
- |
| 26. | |
WITMITZ Sam
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 27. | |
JONES Brenton
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 28. | |
MOSES Thomas
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 29. | |
DONOHOE Alistair
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 30. | |
MOWATT James
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 31. | |
BRIGGS Graham
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 32. | |
HEGYVARI Adrian
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 33. | |
NARDIN Alberto
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 34. | |
MURPHY John
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 35. | |
PHELAN Adam
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 36. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Paul
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 37. | |
RICE Michael
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 38. | |
HILL Benjamin
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 39. | |
EWAN Caleb
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 40. | |
STRACHAN Joel
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 41. | |
FARRAR Tyler
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 42. | |
GOSS Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 43. | |
HOUSE Kristian
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 44. | |
LANE Patrick
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 45. | |
WURF Cameron
|
- |
| 46. | |
CAMERON Jeremy
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 47. | |
LAKE Sean
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 48. | |
SHAW Stuart
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 49. | |
NAPIER Grayson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 50. | |
MAWBY Jackson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 51. | |
EDWARDS David
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 52. | |
KAUFFMANN Jacob
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 53. | |
TALBOT Brodie
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 54. |  |
ENGLISH Felix
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 55. | |
HUCKER Robbie
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 56. | |
CUMING Michael
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 57. | |
KELLY Jake
|
- |
| 58. | |
NANKERVIS Tommy
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 59. | |
PUTT Tanner
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 60. | |
KATSONIS Nicholas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 61. | |
HANDLEY Richard
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 62. | |
COPP Jayden
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 63. | |
SMYTH Alexander
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 64. | |
THOMAS Scott
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 65. | |
GRAZIATO Massimo
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 66. | |
LAWLESS Christopher
|
- |
| 67. | |
MELVILLE David
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 68. | |
THOMAS Ryan
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 69. | |
FRAPPORTI Marco
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 70. | |
DALL\'ANTONIA Tiziano
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 71. | |
EVERS Craig
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 72. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Neil
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 73. | |
HEPBURN Michael
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 74. | |
BECKINSALE Jack
|
- |
| 75. | |
BEWLEY Sam
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 76. | |
SCHULTZ Nick
|
- |
| 77. | |
BAYLY Cameron
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 78. |  |
DOUGALL Nicholas
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 79. | |
LOVELOCK-FAY Mitchell
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 80. | |
BRAMMEIER Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 81. | |
CAVANAGH Ryan
|
- |
| 82. | |
JIM Songezo
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 83. | |
LYONS Angus
|
- |
| 84. | |
SPOKES Samuel
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 85. | |
SPURRELL Tyler
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 86. | |
CLARKE William
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 87. | |
VON HOFF Steele
NFTO
|
- |
| 88. | |
WALKER Kane
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 89. | |
MORTON Angus
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| DNF. | |
KENT-SPARK Oliver
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| DNF. | |
MARTZ Alder
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| DNF. | |
ROBINSON Thomas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| DNF. | |
ROGERS Rico
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
General Classification
| 1. | |
MEYER Cameron
Orica GreenEDGE
|
03:32:15 |
| 2. | |
COOPER Joseph
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:04 |
| 3. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:15 |
| 4. | |
CLARKE Simon
Orica GreenEDGE
|
0:19 |
| 5. | |
NORRIS Lachlan
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
0:23 |
| 6. | |
HOWSON Damien
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 7. | |
SUMMERHILL Daniel
UnitedHealthcare
|
0:24 |
| 8. | |
MORTON Lachlan
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
0:27 |
| 9. | |
DAVIES Scott
|
0:28 |
| 10. | |
COOPER Mitchell
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 11. | |
PAUWELS Serge
MTN - Qhubeka
|
0:29 |
| 12. | |
POWER Robert
|
- |
| 13. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
- |
| 14. | |
TORCKLER Michael
Team Budget Forklifts
|
0:30 |
| 15. | |
FERGUSON Grant
|
- |
| 16. | |
PELLIZOTTI Franco
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 17. | |
SHAW Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 18. | |
JONES Chris
UnitedHealthcare
|
0:31 |
| 19. | |
CANTY Brendan
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 20. | |
EUSER Lucas
UnitedHealthcare
|
0:32 |
| 21. | |
O\' BRIEN Mark
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:34 |
| 22. | |
CULLAIGH Gabriel
|
21:23 |
| 23. | |
EDMONDSON Joshua
|
21:31 |
| 24. | |
CLARKE William
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
25:45 |
| 25. | |
EWAN Caleb
Orica GreenEDGE
|
25:46 |
| 26. | |
JONES Brenton
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 27. | |
BEWLEY Sam
Orica GreenEDGE
|
25:47 |
| 28. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Neil
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 29. | |
HEPBURN Michael
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 30. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Paul
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 31. | |
VON HOFF Steele
NFTO
|
25:48 |
| 32. | |
WITMITZ Sam
Team Budget Forklifts
|
25:49 |
| 33. | |
ENGLISH Felix
JLT Condor
|
25:50 |
| 34. | |
FARRAR Tyler
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 35. | |
PHELAN Adam
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 36. | |
HOUSE Kristian
JLT Condor
|
25:51 |
| 37. | |
BECKINSALE Jack
|
- |
| 38. | |
SPURRELL Tyler
Data#3 Symantec team
|
25:52 |
| 39. | |
NANKERVIS Tommy
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 40. | |
LAWLESS Christopher
|
- |
| 41. | |
MURPHY John
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 42. | |
EDWARDS David
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 43. | |
BRIGGS Graham
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 44. | |
MOWATT James
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 45. | |
CARPENTER Harry
|
25:53 |
| 46. | |
GOSS Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 47. | |
THOMAS Ryan
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 48. | |
BAYLY Cameron
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 49. | |
LYONS Angus
|
- |
| 50. | |
DOUGALL Nicholas
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 51. | |
LOVELOCK-FAY Mitchell
Avanti Racing Team
|
25:54 |
| 52. | |
DONOHOE Alistair
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 53. | |
BRAMMEIER Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 54. | |
DALL\'ANTONIA Tiziano
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 55. | |
MAWBY Jackson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 56. | |
CUMING Michael
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 57. | |
WURF Cameron
|
25:55 |
| 58. | |
CAVANAGH Ryan
|
- |
| 59. | |
COPP Jayden
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 60. | |
PUTT Tanner
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 61. | |
SPOKES Samuel
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 62. | |
THOMAS Scott
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 63. | |
HANDLEY Richard
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 64. | |
EVERS Craig
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 65. | |
HILL Benjamin
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 66. | |
MOSES Thomas
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 67. | |
WALKER Kane
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 68. | |
SMYTH Alexander
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
25:56 |
| 69. | |
HEGYVARI Adrian
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 70. | |
KELLY Jake
|
- |
| 71. | |
KAUFFMANN Jacob
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 72. | |
GRAZIATO Massimo
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 73. | |
RICE Michael
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 74. | |
STRACHAN Joel
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 75. | |
HUCKER Robbie
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
25:57 |
| 76. | |
LAKE Sean
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 77. | |
LANE Patrick
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 78. | |
NAPIER Grayson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
25:58 |
| 79. | |
SHAW Stuart
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 80. | |
MORTON Angus
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 81. | |
TALBOT Brodie
Team Budget Forklifts
|
25:59 |
| 82. | |
CAMERON Jeremy
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 83. | |
SCHULTZ Nick
|
26:00 |
| 84. | |
JIM Songezo
MTN - Qhubeka
|
26:02 |
| 85. | |
MELVILLE David
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 86. | |
KATSONIS Nicholas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
26:03 |
| 87. | |
NARDIN Alberto
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 88. | |
CLEMENTS Alex
|
26:04 |
| 89. | |
FRAPPORTI Marco
Androni Giocattoli
|
26:06 |
Mountains Classification
| 1. | |
POWER Robert
|
48 |
| 2. | |
CANTY Brendan
Team Budget Forklifts
|
20 |
| 3. | |
NORRIS Lachlan
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
16 |
| 4. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
8 |
| 5. | |
PAUWELS Serge
MTN - Qhubeka
|
8 |
| 6. | |
HOWSON Damien
Orica GreenEDGE
|
4 |
Points Classification
| 1. | |
MEYER Cameron
Orica GreenEDGE
|
16 |
| 2. | |
COOPER Joseph
Avanti Racing Team
|
12 |
| 3. | |
SUMMERHILL Daniel
UnitedHealthcare
|
6 |
| 4. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
6 |
| 5. | |
SHAW Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
6 |
| 6. | |
CLARKE Simon
Orica GreenEDGE
|
4 |
| 7. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
2 |
Youth Classification
| 1. | |
DAVIES Scott
|
03:32:43 |
| 2. | |
COOPER Mitchell
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 3. | |
POWER Robert
|
0:01 |
| 4. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
- |
| 5. | |
FERGUSON Grant
|
0:02 |
| 7. | |
EWAN Caleb
Orica GreenEDGE
|
25:18 |
| 8. | |
BECKINSALE Jack
|
25:23 |
| 9. | |
LAWLESS Christopher
|
25:24 |
| 10. | |
EDWARDS David
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
Teams Classification
| 1. | Orica GreenEDGE
|
10:37:31 | |
| 2. | Avanti Racing Team
|
0:02 | |
| 3. | UnitedHealthcare
|
0:29 | |
| 4. | Great Britain
|
21:29 | |
| 5. | Team Budget Forklifts
|
25:55 | |
| 6. | KordaMentha Australian Team
|
25:56 | |
| 7. | Drapac Professional Cycling
|
51:07 | |
| 8. | MTN - Qhubeka
|
51:22 | |
| 9. | Jayco-AIS Under-23 National Team
|
51:23 | |
| 10. | Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
51:31 | |
| 11. | Androni Giocattoli
|
51:41 | |
| 12. | JLT Condor
|
1:16:47 | |
| 13. | Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
1:16:48 | |
| 14. | Data#3 Symantec team
|
1:16:51 | |
| 15. | search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
1:16:57 | |
| 16. | African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
1:17:03 |