Matthews holds off Sutton for Cronulla victory
Sutton claims back-to-back NSW Grand Prix overall honours













Rabobank's Michael Matthews just got the better of local race favourite and series leader Chris Sutton (Sky) at the second race of the NSW Grand Prix at Cronulla on Sunday in a bunch sprint. The pair was separated by centimetres and Matthews looked as surprised as any to take the win, with the Canberra neo-pro planning to lead out former winner Graeme Brown to the line.
Brown's ambitions were scuppered by what he called "Mr Cramps."
Junior World omnium 2010 Australian Under 19 road champion Caleb Ewan (NSWIS) finished third by a similar margin to Sutton.
Matthews, who's only been back on the bike for the last fortnight following a six week break, said today's win would only be good for his confidence heading into the Australian summer season with the next big race starting January 1 at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.
"I just held it all the way to the end," he said at the finish. "I was pretty lucky, I probably went a little bit early, I didn't see anyone coming. It came down to a photo finish and I just held it on the line.
Today's runner-up placing on the back of Saturday's win at Wollongong gave Sutton back-to-back overall honours.
"Full credit to Rabobank, Graeme Brown and Michael Matthews, they certainly had me fooled," Sutton explained post-race. "Michael hit out for the sprint and Browny let the wheel go a little bit and probably about 150 to go, I realised Graeme had nothing and I sprinted around him and got a good run at Michael but it was just a bit too late.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It was a repeat of the finish two years ago with myself and Ben Kersten. Second, I would have loved to have won in Cronulla, home crit, but I can't complain, second's still good."
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Matthews (Rabobank) | 20 | pts |
| 2 | Chris Sutton (Team Sky) | 18 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Caleb Ewan (NSWIS) | 16 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp) | 15 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Ben Kersten (Team Jayco-2XU) | 14 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Jackson-Leigh Rathbone (Parramatta Race Team) | 13 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Adam Phelan (Drapac Cycling Team) | 12 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Graeme Brown (Rabobank) | 11 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Sutton (Team Sky) | 38 | pts |
| 2 | Michael Matthews (Rabobank) | 30 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Caleb Ewan (NSWIS) | 30 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Ben Kersten (Team Jayco-2XU) | 30 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Graeme Brown (Rabobank) | 29 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp) | 28 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Richard Lang (Jayco AIS) | 25 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| 8 | Jackson-Leigh Rathbone (Parramatta Race Team) | 23 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
As a sports journalist and producer since 1997, Jane has covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games, rugby league, motorsport, cricket, surfing, triathlon, rugby union, and golf for print, radio, television and online. However her enduring passion has been cycling.
Jane is a former Australian Editor of Cyclingnews from 2011 to 2013 and continues to freelance within the cycling industry.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Belgian Waffle Ride: Hayden Christian secures Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel with victory in Montana while Cécile Lejeune wraps up women's overall title with runner-up finish
Stella Hobbs goes solo for second individual race win in Bozeman while Christian best in five-rider sprint -
'It's annoying to be out-numbered like that' - Quinn Simmons lets his 'legs talk' with solo march on final lap for third USPro Road National title
25-year-old heads to Tour de France where 'my biggest dream of the whole season is to win a stage wearing this jersey' -
Why a resurgent Marlen Reusser should be a real worry for Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at the Tour de France Femmes – Analysis
Swiss rider scorches to third title at home Tour de Suisse, with ominously more performance still to gain before August -
'A smartphone-like user experience' – The Hammerhead Karoo has just hit its best price of the year in this Amazon Prime Day deal
At full price, the Karoo 3 impressed our expert tester with its brilliant touchscreen that made it our top choice for cycling navigation



