Victorian slips away for Aussie Nationals win

After attacking the field with three laps to go in Sunday's Australian Open Road Championships, Matt Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) slipped into the remnants of an early break then got away by himself for a well deserved victory; 49 seconds ahead of Thursday's time trial winner Adam Hansen (High Road) and Rory Sutherland (Healthnet Maxxis).

Lloyd noted that the race favourites were watching each other and not him. "When I actually made the move, there would be some hesitation [to follow me]. With that in mind I was fortunate enough to get away; and I knew that I could maintain the same speed, because I have done this course that many times."

Coming into the event, Lloyd was not one of the many riders that were spoken about as possible winners of the race, but that played directly into the youngster's hands. "It's one of those races that if you enter it you want to win it," he said. "I have been trying to be a bit more relaxed than in the lead up to the season as opposed to in the past, because in the past I have been trying to be a professional, whereas now that I am, it's more a matter of targeting races or bigger races overseas."

A relaxed Lloyd spoke about his win as though it was just another day on the bike, but admitted, "it's remarkable, I am sure that in the next few days it will sink in."

See full coverage of the Australian Open Road Championships.