Goss shows his sprinting speed

HTC-Highroad demonstrated that while the two Marks - Renshaw and Cavendish - may be the squad's headline act in July, the Australian can lead out any one of the team capable of winning a sprint. And today, in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, that man was Matt Goss.

The Tasmanian benefited from Greg Henderson's misfortune in the final corner and powered to the line ahead of Renshaw, Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) and Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale), who formed a four-man group in the final 500m due to the kiwi's crash.

Goss has been riding well recently, taking out the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic earlier this month and was pleased with the performance. "It's a great start and I'm very happy. Great for me, great for the team and a great start to the Tour Down Under," he said immediately after the win.

"We had it under control we kept the break at a reasonable distance. Our team and Omega Pharma-Lotto did a great to control the race and we were lucky to finish it of. We've got enough power (at HTC) to turn the earth off its axis."

That power consisted of riders such as Bernhard Eisel, Bert Grabsch, Danny Pate and Renshaw, whilst Mark Cavendish waited in the wings for a chance to hit out against some of the in-form fast men at the start of 2011.

And as Goss noted, André Greipel's Omega Pharma-Lotto squad did the lion's share of the work during the 51km race, taking control of proceedings and ensuring a five-man break - which became a leading trio with about 15 laps remaining - wouldn't succeed in its quest to steal the sprinters' thunder.

That escape group contained Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi), talented local Luke Durbridge (UniSA-Australia), Martin Mortensen (Leopard Trek), Markel Irizar (RadioShack) and Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha), which got away during the second lap and maintained a solid advantage of 30 seconds for most of the event.

With the aforementioned loss of Mortensen and Izagirre later in the race it was time for the sprinters' teams to step up and they did, taking charge after the remnants of the break were swept up with five laps remaining. First it was Greipel's squad leading the way, then Allan Davis' Astana crew before Team Sky came to the fore en masse.

Heading into the last lap the combined strength of Team Sky flexed its muscle as the likes of Matthew Hayman, Ben Swift, Simon Gerrans, CJ Sutton and Geraint Thomas worked hard to get their man Henderson to the line in a style reminiscent of its debut appearance at the event last season. On that occasion it was a quinella, although this year's result would be vastly different given Henderson's misfortune.

"It was same scenario as last year - we wanted to wait a little longer but when the opportunity arose... You go into a race with a plan but you have to think on your feet. We made the call and we had to go - everyone did their bit but you don't always win," said Hayman afterwards.

"Hendy was behind CJ [coming into the final corner], I believe, when he went down. Maybe I went through there a bit too hot - I wanted to keep the speed because I'd already done a fairly long turn and I figured if I hit the brakes too much it was going to hurt me coming out of the corner so I wanted to hit it really hard.

Henderson avoided serious injury in the accident and will only be missing some skin off his legs when the first stage of the Santos Tour Down Under starts on Tuesday.

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Full Results
1Matthew Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad1:05:12
2Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-HighroadRow 1 - Cell 2
3Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team RadioShackRow 2 - Cell 2
4Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 3 - Cell 2
5Chris Sutton (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 4 - Cell 2
6Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard TrekRow 5 - Cell 2
7Ben Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 8 - Cell 2
10Allan Davis (Aus) AstanaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Andre Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 14 - Cell 2
16Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Davide Cimolai (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:06
18Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 17 - Cell 2
19Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:08
20Mitchell Docker (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 20 - Cell 2
22Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 21 - Cell 2
23Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 23 - Cell 2
25Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 24 - Cell 2
26Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 25 - Cell 2
27Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) AstanaRow 27 - Cell 2
29Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Leopard TrekRow 30 - Cell 2
32Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 32 - Cell 2
34Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 33 - Cell 2
35Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Manuel Cardoso (Por) Team RadioShackRow 36 - Cell 2
38Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 38 - Cell 2
40John Murphy (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Julien Vermote (Bel) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:13
44Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank SungardRow 43 - Cell 2
45Markel Irizar (Spa) Team RadioShackRow 44 - Cell 2
46Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 47 - Cell 2
49Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 48 - Cell 2
50William Clarke (Aus) Leopard TrekRow 49 - Cell 2
51Gregory Rast (Swi) Team RadioShackRow 50 - Cell 2
52Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Ivan Velasco (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 52 - Cell 2
54Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 53 - Cell 2
55Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:00:20
57Jos van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:22
58Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team0:00:23
59Daniel Sesma (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 58 - Cell 2
60Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 59 - Cell 2
61Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 60 - Cell 2
62Bert Grabsch (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 61 - Cell 2
63Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard TrekRow 62 - Cell 2
64Nicki Sorensen (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 63 - Cell 2
65Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-ISDRow 65 - Cell 2
67Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 66 - Cell 2
68Lance Armstrong (USA) Team RadioShackRow 67 - Cell 2
69Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Lampre-ISDRow 68 - Cell 2
70David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 69 - Cell 2
71Alan Marangoni (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 70 - Cell 2
72Maxim Gourov (Kaz) AstanaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 73 - Cell 2
75Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard TrekRow 74 - Cell 2
76Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre-ISDRow 78 - Cell 2
80Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) Lampre-ISDRow 79 - Cell 2
81Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-ISDRow 80 - Cell 2
82Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) AstanaRow 81 - Cell 2
83Michael Hepburn (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jack Bobridge (Aus) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 83 - Cell 2
85Luke Roberts (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 84 - Cell 2
86Ben Hermans (Bel) Team RadioShackRow 85 - Cell 2
87David Lopez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 87 - Cell 2
89Danny Pate (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 88 - Cell 2
90Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 90 - Cell 2
92Juan Horrach (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 92 - Cell 2
94Tanel Kangert (Est) AstanaRow 93 - Cell 2
95Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 94 - Cell 2
96AmaÔl Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 96 - Cell 2
98Luke Durbridge (Aus) UNI SA - AustraliaRow 97 - Cell 2
99Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 99 - Cell 2
101Vicente Reynes (Spa) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard TrekRow 101 - Cell 2
103Jose Vicente Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Angel Madrazo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:30
106Robbie Hunter (RSA) Team RadioShackRow 105 - Cell 2
107Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 106 - Cell 2
108Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-HighroadRow 107 - Cell 2
109Hayden Roulston (NZl) HTC-HighroadRow 108 - Cell 2
110Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Travis Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 110 - Cell 2
112Timothy Roe (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana0:00:37
115Marco Bandiera (Ita) Quick Step Cycling TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
116Cameron Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervélo0:00:40
117Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard TrekRow 117 - Cell 2
119Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre-ISDRow 118 - Cell 2
120Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-ISDRow 119 - Cell 2
121Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 121 - Cell 2
123Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Garmin-CervéloRow 122 - Cell 2
124Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:44
125Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank SungardRow 124 - Cell 2
126Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:48
127Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Procycling0:01:16
128Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:38
129Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 128 - Cell 2
130Simon Clarke (Aus) Astana0:01:42
131Cameron Wurf (Aus) Liquigas-Cannondale0:03:10
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Skoda Sprint-lap 5
1Luke Durbridge (Aus) UNI SA - Australia
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Hindmarsh Sprint-lap 10
1Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
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Cycle Instead Sprint-lap 15
1Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard Trek
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Jayco Sprint-lap 20
1Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi

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