The men's and women's podium finishers kick off celebrations with some champagne.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Plan B? A West Australian Institute of Sport rider corners mid-peloton.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
The elite men's field waits for the racing to get underway.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Spectators gasp as a rider hits the pavement. (Image credit: Tour de Perth)
There were some serious faces on the men's start line.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
A rider gets ready for the first elite men's race of the weekend.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Travis Meyer (Plan B) was all smiles before the race started.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Graeme Brown (Rabobank / Canton) claims victory on the opening stage.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Graeme Brown (Rabobank / Canton) celebrates on the podium.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
The women's field corner as their race starts late afternoon.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Dutch rider Ellen Van Duij take the women's victory.(Image credit: Tour de Perth)
Sydney’s Graeme Brown (Rabobank) proved too quick for local rider Travis Meyer (Plan B) at the Tour de Perth’s criterium opener. The two riders, both of which ride for ProTour teams overseas, outpaced Australian Continental team rider Doug Repacholi (Budget Forklifts) who took third place.
Dutch rider Ellen Van Duij stole the glory from the Australian riders in the women’s event. Van Duij held off track star and West Australian Josie Tomic (Plan B) for victory while Kate Cullen (Scotts) took third place.
The peloton heads into the Dolomites for four categorised climbs and virtually no recovery sections over 146 kilometres with 3,200 metres of elevation gain