Cameron Meyer wins the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Patrick Bevin takes the final stage

ARTHURS SEAT, Australia (CT) – Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) has successfully defended his overall lead in the 2015 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, finishing second on the hill-top finish to Arthurs Seat on the final day of the race.

Patrick Bevin (Avanti) won the stage ahead of Meyer and his teammate Simon Clarke, the winner of last year’s race. The result sees Bevin finish second overall, 11 seconds behind Meyer and eight seconds ahead of Joe Cooper, Bevin’s teammate and fellow New Zealander.

Earlier in the day a 13-rider escape group got clear of the peloton as the race took in a nearly 90km loop around the Mornington Peninsula. None of the 13 riders in the break were a threat to the general classification but Cameron Bayly (Search2retain) would use his participation in the escape group to take control of the KOM classification.

The leaders’ gap peaked at 1:50 but with Avanti chasing hard in the peloton for Cooper and Bevin the escapees were never likely to survive to the end. Three riders broke clear of the lead group on the first of three ascents of Arthurs Seat — Tanner Putt (UnitedHealthcare), Cameron Bayly and Richard Handley (JLT-Condor) — and they were joined on the first of two smaller laps by a second group of three: Will Clarke, Sam Spokes (both Drapac) and Steele von Hoff (KordaMentha-Australia).

The six leaders held a lead that was beyond a minute at one point, but with Avanti still chasing, the gap was down to 27 seconds at the top of Arthurs Seat the second time around. The race was all back together on the approach to the final 3km climb up to Arthurs Seat.

Lachlan Norris (Drapac) attacked solo on the climb and opened a small and ultimately short-lived advantage. Robert Power (U23-Australia) was the next to attack, but he was quickly marked as well.

Only a handful of riders came to the finish with a chance of victory and it was Patrick Bevin that had the strongest kick.

“It was a great feeling to get up that berg the last time and be at the pointy end then have enough to sprint to take out the stage,” Bevin said. “It’s a great victory and it’s the type of finish I’m beginning to really like.”

Cameron Meyer spoke after the stage about the intensity of the race.

“That was nearly a WorldTour bike race. I’ve never experienced something like that at a Herald Sun Tour,” Meyer said. “That was just ridiculously fast.”

“I’m relieved that it’s over and to get second on this hill — that’s a great effort,” Meyer continued. “Hats off to Pat Bevin — jeez he rode a great race and so did Avanti but my boys were really good. I only had to do 200m for the whole race. It was fantastic.”

Meyer took control of the 2015 Jayco Herald Sun Tour on stage 1 when he won into Bendigo ahead of New Zealand national champion Joe Cooper. He defended that lead on stages 2 and 3, both of which were won by his teammate Caleb Ewan.

The overall victory makes Meyer just the third rider to have won the Herald Sun Tour and Santos Tour Down Under double, alongside Stuart O’Grady and Simon Gerrans.

In addition to winning the general classification, Cameron Meyer took out the points classification. Cameron Bayly won the KOM classification, Robert Power won the best young rider classification and Orica-GreenEdge won the teams classification.

Click the links below for reports from previous stages in the race:

Prologue time trial

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Go to: Prologue Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Final Classification

Herald Sun Tour

Stage 4

: Arthurs Seat > Arthurs Seat

Sunday 8th February (2015)

Classification: 2.1

Category: Int. Men

Distance: 125.4km

Stage Result

1.	BEVIN Patrick Avanti Racing Team	02:54:38
2.	MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE	-
3.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	-
4.	CANTY Brendan Team Budget Forklifts	0:02
5.	POWER Robert	-
6.	PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni Giocattoli	0:04
7.	HOWSON Damien Orica GreenEDGE	0:06
8.	DAVIES Scott	0:07
9.	COOPER Joseph Avanti Racing Team	0:09
10.	PAUWELS Serge MTN - Qhubeka	0:11
11.	COOPER Mitchell Navitas Satalyst Racing team	-
12.	FERGUSON Grant	-
13.	NORRIS Lachlan Drapac Professional Cycling	-
14.	O\' BRIEN Mark Avanti Racing Team	0:32
15.	SUMMERHILL Daniel UnitedHealthcare	0:40
16.	JONES Chris UnitedHealthcare	-
17.	MOSES Thomas JLT Condor	0:46
18.	TORCKLER Michael Team Budget Forklifts	-
19.	CUMING Michael JLT Condor	0:48
20.	MORTON Lachlan Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis	0:55
21.	SHAW Patrick Avanti Racing Team	1:10
22.	BRIGGS Graham JLT Condor	1:14
23.	WURF Cameron	-
24.	THOMAS Scott Data#3 Symantec team	1:30
25.	SCHULTZ Nick	1:43
26.	HAMILTON Chris	-
27.	EUSER Lucas UnitedHealthcare	-
28.	CAMERON Jeremy African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team	1:50
29.	HILL Benjamin Charter Mason Giant Racing Team	-
30.	MAWBY Jackson Navitas Satalyst Racing team	-
31.	SPOKES Samuel Drapac Professional Cycling	2:05
32.	FRAPPORTI Marco Androni Giocattoli	2:16
33.	CLEMENTS Alex	2:26
34.	PHELAN Adam Drapac Professional Cycling	2:45
35.	MORTON Angus Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis	-
36.	EDMONDSON Joshua	3:11
37.	HUCKER Robbie Drapac Professional Cycling	-
38.	KATSONIS Nicholas Charter Mason Giant Racing Team	-
39.	EWAN Caleb Orica GreenEDGE	3:23
40.	VON HOFF Steele NFTO	3:36
41.	TALBOT Brodie Team Budget Forklifts	-
42.	BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE	-
43.	LAKE Sean African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team	-
44.	LANE Patrick African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team	-
45.	HANDLEY Richard JLT Condor	-
46.	JIM Songezo MTN - Qhubeka	-
47.	BAYLY Cameron search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team	4:02
48.	PUTT Tanner UnitedHealthcare	5:10
49.	NARDIN Alberto Androni Giocattoli	-
50.	MURPHY John UnitedHealthcare	-
51.	FARRAR Tyler MTN - Qhubeka	-
52.	GOSS Matthew MTN - Qhubeka	-
53.	DALL\'ANTONIA Tiziano Androni Giocattoli	-
54.	CLARKE William Drapac Professional Cycling	5:44
55.	SMYTH Alexander African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team	9:38
56.	STRACHAN Joel Navitas Satalyst Racing team	10:09
57.	LAWLESS Christopher	-
58.	KELLY Jake	-
59.	NANKERVIS Tommy Team Budget Forklifts	-
60.	RICE Michael search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team	-
61.	CULLAIGH Gabriel	-
62.	EVERS Craig Data#3 Symantec team	-
63.	COPP Jayden Charter Mason Giant Racing Team	-
64.	THOMAS Ryan Data#3 Symantec team	-
65.	DOUGALL Nicholas MTN - Qhubeka	-
66.	LOVELOCK-FAY Mitchell Avanti Racing Team	-
67.	NAPIER Grayson Navitas Satalyst Racing team	-
68.	WALKER Kane Navitas Satalyst Racing team	10:34
69.	HEGYVARI Adrian UnitedHealthcare	-
70.	MOWATT James Data#3 Symantec team	13:50
71.	SHAW Stuart search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team	13:52
72.	SPURRELL Tyler Data#3 Symantec team	14:33
DNF.	HOUSE Kristian JLT Condor	-
DNF.	MELVILLE David Data#3 Symantec team	-
DNF.	VAN DER PLOEG Paul Charter Mason Giant Racing Team	-
DNF.	EDWARDS David Charter Mason Giant Racing Team	-
DNF.	GRAZIATO Massimo African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team	-
DNF.	CARPENTER Harry	-
DNF.	HEPBURN Michael Orica GreenEDGE	-
DNF.	BRAMMEIER Matthew MTN - Qhubeka	-
DNF.	ENGLISH Felix JLT Condor	-
DNF.	VAN DER PLOEG Neil Avanti Racing Team	-
DNF.	KAUFFMANN Jacob Team Budget Forklifts	-
DNF.	CAVANAGH Ryan	-
DNF.	SPURRELL Tyler Data#3 Symantec team	-
DNF.	CARPENTER Harry	-
DNF.	LYONS Angus	-

Hamish Moffatt

Hasn’t there been more World Tour teams at this event in the past? I count one this year.
- http://cyclingtips.com.au Matt de Neef
  
  Yes indeed. Garmin-Sharp and Cannondale both rode it last year as well. They’ve obviously merged which would have meant one less team, but they didn’t turn up either. John Trevorrow said after the final stage yesterday that “there will be more ProTour teams here next year”. Worth noting there were two ProConti teams last year (Drapac and UnitedHealthcare) and four this year (Drapac, UnitedHealthcare, Androni-Giocattoli and MTN-Qhubeka).
Baz Floyd

Unbelievably poor (make that non existent!) tv coverage. Surely someone could have found two hours in the day to broadcast the final stage, in part at least?
- gk
  
  Not only that, it is still not available on Utube. It is the most ridiculous coverage of a major cycling event in australia.