GEELONG: Jay McCarthy became the first local rider to win the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Sunday, battling through extremely hot conditions to finish in a sprint ahead of Italian Elia Viviani.
McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) took the fourth edition of the 164-kilometre (102-miles) race in Geelong, Victoria, in four hours, four minutes and zero seconds.
Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) and South Africa's Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-SCOTT), who won the UCI season-opening Tour Down Under in South Australia last week, were in second and third place respectively with the same time.
McCarthy, 25, said he was speechless at the win and thanked his teammates.
"Pete (Kennaugh) lit it up on the last climb. We had Daniel (Oss) who has been getting better as he's been here in Australia," he told host broadcaster Channel Seven.
"I needed him there so I could stay calm coming into sprint. It worked out."
McCarthy had talked up his chances of a win before the race -- named after Australian cycling great Cadel Evans -- as teammate and three-time world cycling champion Peter Sagan had left Australia after the Tour Down Under.
Viviani said he was disappointed to have finished second but pleased with the start to his season.
"Not easy for me this course. I'm happy about my shape," the 28-year-old said.
"Sometimes during the season I never finish in front of race like that one. So in January my shape is good."
The riders endured searing heat conditions that saw the mercury soar above 40 degree Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Race commentators said road surface temperatures rose to 50 degrees Celsius.
McCarthy, from Queensland state, said he was used to the heat and humidity but still found the conditions challenging.
Australian rider Chloe Hosking (ALE) won the women's race on Saturday with a time of three hours, 15 minutes and 54 seconds.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.