Ray outsprints Goesinnen to win horrendous Shipwreck Coast Classic

New Zealand's Alexander Ray has taken out the Subaru National Road Series' second last round, the gruelling Shipwreck Coast Classic. Coming the day after the 256km Melbourne to Warrnambool, only the hard men backed up for what is always a windy affair along the coastline of Western Victoria.

Ray took out the event in a sprint ahead of day-long breakaway companions Floris Goesinnen (Drapac) and Saturday's Melbourne to Warrnambool third place getter Jacob Kauffmann (Budget Forklifts).

"This win is up there with the best in my career," said an emotional Ray. "This is my last race of the season so it's great to go out with a win."

Ray was part of a breakaway group which formed 11 kilometres into the 128 kilometre Great Ocean Road race. Ray then took the initiative and attacked with 15 kilometres to go, taking the defending champion Goesinnen with him.

"Towards the end of the race a lot of the guys started looking around at each other and attacking but it wasn't until later on that I was able to get away.

"Luckily I had Floris on my wheel which helped because his teammates didn't need to chase us," Ray described.

Gale force winds and threatening clouds greeted the peloton as they made their way out of the seaside town of Warrnambool, the heavy winds causing all but 31 riders to complete the race. Many riders found themselves caught out early owing to heavy legs from yesterday's race, or heavy heads from the previous night's celebration.

The conditions played into the hands of the leading group which included Luke Davison, William Walker, Goesinnen (Drapac), Kauffmann, Ray, Joel Strachan (Target Trek), Mark O'Brien, Callum Scotson (Euride), Trever Spencer (Charter Mason), Jacob Restall and Nicholas Bien. The race was slowly whittled down until Ray made his winning move.