Cam Meyer claims overall Jayco Herald Sun Tour victory

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Cam Meyer and Orica-GreenEdge held off the challenge from Avanti on top of Arthurs Seat to claim overall victory of the 62nd edition of the race. Paddy Bevin won the stage for Avanti, claiming a ten second bonus on the line, but with Meyer crossing in second place and picking up six bonus seconds, the Australian did enough to hold onto yellow by 11 seconds. Meyer joins Simon Gerrans and Stuart O'Grady as the only cyclists to have won the Sun Tour and Tour Down Under.

"I am relieved that it’s over and happy to get second, it’s a good effort on this hill," Meyer said after the win. "Hats off to Pat Bevin who rode a great race. So did Avanti, but my boys were really good. I only had to do 200 metres of the whole race so it’s fantastic."

A six-rider break that formed inside the first 10km had splintered on the second of the three ascents up the climb with the remnants of that break caught on the base of the final climb. With Avanti driving the pace on the front of the peloton to set up Bevin and Joe Cooper for the stage and overall win, GreenEdge via Damien Howson came to the front to set a high tempo and nullify the opportunity for GC hopefuls to launch an attack on the third and final ascent of Arthurs Seat, leaving Meyer fresh for the finale.

“I find a lot of satisfaction in winning this one. When I won Tour Down Under in 2011, it was out of my control," Meyer added. "Matt Goss was swinging for seconds and if he run top-two, I would have lost. This was a hill top and it was something that I could control if I was going to win the stage or if I was going to stay with the best climbers so I really get satisfaction that I was the strongest on the Bendigo stage and then second on Arthurs Seat to secure the win."

With Orica-GreenEdge winless on the eve of the tour, stage wins by Meyer and Caleb Ewan have kicked started its 2015 campaign, relieving pressure to perform as the winner explained.

"There was a little bit of pressure coming from us riders knowing that the last few seasons we’d had so many wins. We are so close on so many occasions and this has really got the ball rolling. When I won the stage into Bendigo, Daryl Impey win the South African national time trial time that day. Caleb Ewan continued it with two stage wins and I think this will get the season started for our team and it does take a lot of pressure of our shoulders."

While Bevin claimed his first professional win, it wasn't enough to wrest the yellow jersey off Meyer's shoulders but Avanti did enough to secure second and third on GC.

"I was just grovelling for wheels to be honest, it’s a pretty tough finish and I have a bit of weight over those guys so I was just waiting for the road to flatten out with 600 to go. I knew if I waited till there, I’d be tough to beat in the run to the line," Bevin said after the stage.

"It’s tough when you’re balancing the GC and the stage. We knew when we came around with two laps that GreenEdge still had a full squad there and it was going to be pretty tough to unseat the GC. We talked about the other options and I spoke to Joe [Cooper] at the bottom and he said he was a bit ‘so-so’ and I knew that if I could just hold on for dear life I would be pretty good odds in the sprint."

The early break
After the fast neutral start to the 122km stage which saw the riders roll down Arthurs Seat in preparation of the Mornington Peninsula loop, within 10km the main breakaway of the day was established with the peloton happy to let them out to a 1:37 minute lead.

In the break was Nick Dougall (MTN - Qhubeka), Matthew Goss (MTN - Qhubeka), Tanner Putt (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team), William Clarke (Drapac Professional Cycling), Samuel Spokes (Drapac Professional Cycling), Richard Handley (JLT Condor), Cameron Bayly (Search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team), Jayden Copp (Charter Mason Giant Racing Team), Alexander Smyth (African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team), Craig Evers (Data #3 Symantec Racing Team p/b Scody), Steele von Hoff (KordaMentha Australian Team), Gabriel Cullaigh (Great Britain National Team) and Christopher Lawless (Great Britain National Team).

Having missed the break, CharterMason send Paul van der Ploeg and David Edwards up the road with the duo making it within 40 seconds of the 13 leaders but at the 23km mark they were back in the peloton.

Trying to secure Rob Power the king of the mountains jersey, Jayco-AIS Under-23 National Team came to the front of the bunch to control the pace as the gap extended to almost two minutes after 35km or racing. The gap was brought down to 1:17 minute while von Hoff, on home roads, took the intermediate sprint point with the peloton happy with the time gap to the break.

Ascents up Arthurs
On the run in the first of three climbs up Arthurs Seat, the 13-rider break was starting to split and then they hit the half-way point of the ascent. Von Hoff was driving the pace before Bayly, Putt and Hanley forced themselves clear with Spokes quick to chase. Power was making a move behind to secure KOM points but was unable to catch Bayly before he took the 24 points on offer.

Bayly, Putt, Hanley, Spokes and von Hoff formed a five man break on the descent of the climb with 55 second over the peloton inside the final 30km. Avanti were all over the front of the peloton as they looked to set up an attack on the penultimate time up the climb via Pat Shaw. Will Clarke had bridged the gap to the five leaders but on the slopes of the climb was distanced again as Joe Cooper started the feel the strain.

Bayly crested the climb ahead of Putt to secure himself the KOM jersey, celebrating his achievement over the line.

Inside the final five kilometres, the five leaders were in sight of the GreenEdge and Avanti controlled peloton, which was consistently being trimmed, so that by the base of the final climb it was all back together again. With GreenEdge setting the high pace, riders struggled to attack although Lachie Norris (Drapac) gave it best to get 30 metres clear only to be closed down by Meyer and Clarke.

With Bevin holding onto the front group, when they rounded the final corner it was no surprise who took the stage win as Meyer crossed the line behind him with Clarke, showing no effect of his numerous wounds, in third and Brendan Canty (Budget Forklifts) fourth, two seconds back.

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