Dempster wins Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic opener

Zakkari Dempter (SASI) held off Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT) and Brenton Jones (Procon Telematics') to win the opening race of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic on Thursday.

Dempster broke free as part of a seven man group that included teammate Harry Carpenter, Orica GreenEDGE duo Luke Durbridge and Matt Goss, English, Jones and Luke Parker (Jayco VIS).

The Orica GreenEDGE pair attempted to control the break with Durbridge using his skills against the clock to set pace with around three laps to go.

However it was the less experienced SASI pair that came to the fore with Carpenter leading out Dempster for the sprint win

Defending champion Caleb Ewan, who crashed in the build up to the event, missed the break. The 19-year-old was lapped out of the race with the rest of the peloton, as the lead group continued on for their final three laps.

"I couldn't be happier. January 2nd and one win so it's one more than last year," Dempster said. "I felt pretty good. I could tell after the warm up I was in good shape and after all the training I've done in the last two months.

"You could see guys like Gossy just labouring a little bit as he comes into shape for the Spring Classics, so I could see that earlier on so we tried to put the pressure on with Carpenter attacking and that really played in my hands cause I got a rest for a bit and so I felt strong on the last lap."

Bronzini leads Wiggle home

In the women's race, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda), started her year with a bang, wining ahead of Annette Edmondson and Tiffany Cromwell. Bronzini returned to the town in which see won her first world title in 2010 to claim the leader's yellow and sprinters green jerseys, while her Wiggle Honda outfit also headed up the teams classification.

"I will buy a house here, maybe, in the future," the 30-year-old Italian said at the finish. "I'm really happy because I can check my form in the beginning of the season and it's a good start to the season with some of my Wiggle teammates."

Bronzini's teammate Peta Mullens laid the groundwork for the Italian’s win, launching several attacks during the race in a bid to weaken the opposition. Wiggle came into the race with arguably the strongest line-up in the women’s field and despite a late flurry from Cromwell on her Specialized Lululemon debut, Bronzini and her team were too strong.

"Tiffany had a good tactic on the final (lap), she tried to surprise us," Bronzini said.

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