October 13, 2008 (Inverloch, Australia) – For the second day in a row Matt Goss, of the CSC Saxo Bank team, relegated Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke to the minor placings by winning the opening stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

And just like yesterday Goss attributed a large portion of his win in the 130km trek from Traralgon to Inverloch to the work of his teammates, particularly Stuart O’Grady, who broke away from the peloton with 65km remaining only to be caught 15km from the finish.

“It was pretty windy all day but we always had someone in front and Stuey (O’Grady) made it easy because we didn’t have to do anything for the last 50 to 60km because everyone was just chasing him,” said a jubilant Goss.

“It was a hard day and it was good to finish off well. It’s nice to get a win here, even though yesterday was good, this is even better.”

With CSC Saxo Bank having only five riders in the race the experienced O’Grady decided the best option for them was to go on the attack and force the others to chase.

The veteran displayed all the determination and bravado that has made him one of Australia’s most celebrated riders to boldly sneak away from the peloton to lead by almost four minutes. At one stage it looked like the 35-year-old would pull off a stunning win, only to ride into the teeth of a ferocious head wind 20km from the finish that almost instantaneously halted his dash to the line.

“It was the head more than anything telling me to attack and it was a moment when everyone looked pretty hammered,” O’Grady said.

“In the end I probably bite off a bit more than I could chew. But you’ve got to give it a crack.The conditions were just too tough for me. It was just a massive head wind the whole way and it was just too much in the end.”

Once O’Grady was caught by the chase – led by the Toyota-United and Barloworld teams – there was still plenty of team support for the 21-year-old Tasmanian Goss in the hectic run to the line.

“There was a stack in the finish but I’m not really sure what happened because it was just behind me,” Goss said. “I was just trying to keep near the front. The Toyota boys hit out at around 600m to go and (teammate) Brad McGee followed those guys and I jumped on the wheel.”

“Then Leigh Howard (Virgin Blue Australian national team) hit out at about 300m to go and he hit out well but Cookie (Baden Cooke, Barloworld) chased and I just come over the top of them.”

The crash in the sprint finish involved three riders, with the worst affected South Australia.com-AIS rider Travis Meyer, who was taken to hospital for x-rays with a suspected broken shoulder. Virgin Blues’ David Kemp and Chris Jongewaard of the Panasonic team were also involved in the crash but managed to finish the stage.

The tough conditions also contributed to Henk Vogels (Toyota-United), Greg Henderson (Yes Optus Shpt New Zealnd), Carlo Scognamiglio (Barloworld) and Matt Rice (Jelly Belly) abandoning the race. The third place finisher on the stage, Leigh Howard has moved into the lead of the Make it Happen in Provincial Victoria U23 category.

The Cyclismo Bendigo King of the Mountains jersey was taken by Bernard Van Ulden, an American on the Jelly Belly team who claimed the points on the first climb of the tour. For Goss the stage win also delivered the overall race lead and the Budget Forklift sprint points classification.

Tomorrow – Stage Two – Inverloch to Warragul – 118.1km
– Tuesday, October 14
– Start – Wyeth-McNamara Park, Ramsey Rd, Inverloch, 10.30am
– Finish – Albert Rd, Warragul ˆ ETA 1.30pm

Stage two of the Tour from Inverloch to Warragul offers the first real climbing challenges of 2008 with some tough climbs though the stunning Strezlecki Ranges before the run in to the finish at Warragul.

Results

1. Matthew Goss (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank 3:14:02 (40:323 km/h)
2. Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
3. Leigh Howard (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
4. Mitchell Docker (Aus) Drapac Porsche
5. Joel Pearson (Aus) Savings & Loans
6. Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan
7. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1
8. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly
9. David Pell (Aus) Savings & Loans
10. Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan
11. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United
12. Nathan Clarke (Aus) Praties
13. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Panasonic
14. Will Walker (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
15. Malcolm Rudolph (Aus) Budget Forklifts
16. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United
17. Matt Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1
18. Nic Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly
19. Lars Bak (Den) CSC-Saxo Bank
20. Gene Bates (Aus) Drapac Porsche
21. Michael England (Aus) Budget Forklifts
22. Lasse Bochman (Den) CSC-Saxo Bank
23. Will Routley (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
24. Craig Mccartney (Aus) Savings & Loans
25. Ben Mather (Aus) Praties
26. Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld
27. Daniel Furmston (Aus) Praties
28. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank
29. Jeremy Yates (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
30. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
31. Richard England (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
32. Daryl Impey (RSA) Barloworld
33. Marco Corti (Ita) Barloworld
34. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United
35. Cameron Jennings (Aus) Budget Forklifts
36. Patrick Shaw (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
37. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly
38. Scott Lyttle (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
39. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
40. Jack Anderson (Aus) Budget Forklifts
41. Glen Chadwick (NZl) Team Type 1
42. Richie Porte (Aus) Praties
43. Bradley Mcgee (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank
44. Jason Rigg (Aus) Praties
45. Andrew Randell (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
46. Peter Mcdonald (Aus) Drapac Porsche
47. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United
48. Simon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
49. Cameron Hughes (Aus) Budget Forklifts
50. Dale Scarfe (Aus) Panasonic
51. Stuart Shaw (Aus) Drapac Porsche
52. Daniel Braunsteins (Aus) Drapac Porsche
53. Ben King (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
54. Adam Semple (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
55. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
56. Chris Luxton (Aus) Savings & Loans
57. Bruno Langlois (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
58. Shawn Milne (USA) Team Type 1
59. Rob Britton (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
60. Gordon Mccauley (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
61. Anthony Chapman (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
62. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota-United
63. Daniel Holt (USA) Team Type 1
64. Jonny Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United
65. Christopher Froome (GBr) Barloworld
66. Kazuhiro Mori (Jpn) Aisan
67. Bryson Bowers (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
68. Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan
69. Darren Shea (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
70. Angus Morton (Aus) Drapac Porsche
71. Dylan Newell (Aus) Praties
72. Jack Bobridge (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
73. Jason Allen (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
74. Mark O’brien (Aus) Drapac Porsche
75. Jonathon Lovelock (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
76. Jason Hegert (Aus) Panasonic
77. Chris Jongeward (Aus) Panasonic
78. David Kemp (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
79. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly 15:32
80. Tim Roe (Aus) Savings & Loans
81. Peter Ladd (Aus) Budget Forklifts
82. Peter Herzig (Aus) Panasonic
83. Will Dickeson (Aus) Savings & Loans
84. Ben Grieve-Johnson (Aus) Praties
85. Tim Guy (Aus) Panasonic
86. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1
87. Kenichi Suzuki (Jpn) Aisan
88. William Ford (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
89. Chris Jory (Aus) Panasonic
90. Travis Meyer (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
DNF Eric Boily (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada 23:01
DNF Russell Gill (Aus) Savings & Loans 27:47:00
DNF Peter Milostic (Aus) Budget Forklifts
DNF Scott Tietzel (USA) Jelly Belly 30:20:00
DNF Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Barloworld
DNF Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United
DNF Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly
DNF Greg Henderson (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand

GC after Stage 1

1. Matthew Goss (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank 13:52:00
2. Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld 0:04
3. Leigh Howard (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia 0:06
4. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank
5. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly 0:07
6. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United
7. Gordon Mccauley (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand 0:08
8. Mitchell Docker (Aus) Drapac Porsche 0:10
9. Joel Pearson (Aus) Savings & Loans
10. Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan
11. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1
12. David Pell (Aus) Savings & Loans
13. Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan
14. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United
15. Nathan Clarke (Aus) Praties
16. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Panasonic
17. Will Walker (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
18. Malcolm Rudolph (Aus) Budget Forklifts
19. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United
20. Matt Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1
21. Nic Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly
22. Lars Bak (Den) CSC-Saxo Bank
23. Gene Bates (Aus) Drapac Porsche
24. Michael England (Aus) Budget Forklifts
25. Lasse Bochman (Den) CSC-Saxo Bank
26. Will Routley (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
27. Craig Mccartney (Aus) Savings & Loans
28. Ben Mather (Aus) Praties
29. Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld
30. Daniel Furmston (Aus) Praties
31. Jeremy Yates (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
32. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
33. Richard England (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
34. Daryl Impey (RSA) Barloworld
35. Marco Corti (Ita) Barloworld
36. Cameron Jennings (Aus) Budget Forklifts
37. Patrick Shaw (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
38. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly
39. Scott Lyttle (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
40. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
41. Jack Anderson (Aus) Budget Forklifts
42. Glen Chadwick (NZl) Team Type 1
43. Richie Porte (Aus) Praties
44. Bradley Mcgee (Aus) CSC-Saxo Bank
45. Jason Rigg (Aus) Praties
46. Andrew Randell (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
47. Peter Mcdonald (Aus) Drapac Porsche
48. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United
49. Simon Clarke (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
50. Cameron Hughes (Aus) Budget Forklifts
51. Dale Scarfe (Aus) Panasonic
52. Stuart Shaw (Aus) Drapac Porsche
53. Daniel Braunsteins (Aus) Drapac Porsche
54. Ben King (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
55. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
56. Chris Luxton (Aus) Savings & Loans
57. Bruno Langlois (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
58. Shawn Milne (USA) Team Type 1
59. Anthony Chapman (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
60. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota-United
61. Daniel Holt (USA) Team Type 1
62. Jonny Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United
63. Christopher Froome (GBr) Barloworld
64. Kazuhiro Mori (Jpn) Aisan
65. Bryson Bowers (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
66. Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan
67. Darren Shea (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
68. Angus Morton (Aus) Drapac Porsche
69. Dylan Newell (Aus) Praties
70. Jack Bobridge (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
71. Mark O’brien (Aus) Drapac Porsche
72. Jonathon Lovelock (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
73. Jason Hegert (Aus) Panasonic
74. Chris Jongeward (Aus) Panasonic
75. David Kemp (Aus) Virgin Blue Australia
76. Travis Meyer (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
77. Adam Semple (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS 0:30
78. Rob Britton (Can) Bicycle Superstore Canada
79. Jason Allen (NZl) Yes Optus Shop New Zealand
80. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly 15:42
81. Tim Roe (Aus) Savings & Loans
82. Peter Ladd (Aus) Budget Forklifts
83. Will Dickeson (Aus) Savings & Loans
84. Ben Grieve-Johnson (Aus) Praties
85. Tim Guy (Aus) Panasonic
86. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1
87. Kenichi Suzuki (Jpn) Aisan
88. William Ford (Aus) SouthAustralia.com-AIS
89. Chris Jory (Aus) Panasonic
90. Peter Herzig (Aus) Panasonic 16:02