Queenslander Jay McCarthy became the first Australian to win the UCI WorldTour Elite Men’s Race day on Sunday.
The 25-year-old won the title in 4h04:00 ahead of a first-class line-up including 12 WorldTour teams.
“I’ve been poking my head out of the hotel window all week looking at the finish line thinking about this…it worked perfectly for us,” McCarthy said.
With the help of team mate Daniel Oss, he was able to hold off Italian great Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) who finished second and South African favourite Daryl Impey third.
The hot and humid conditions, which reached 41 degrees out on the 164km course, which included Barwon Heads, suited McCarthy.
“It’s more humid than normal down here. We get humidity and heat in Queensland and the two together worked well for me,” he said.
The race, more commonly known as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, drew thousands of spectators from across the region. The race passed through Cadel Evans’ home town of Barwon Heads.
