Split second separates top four in sprint blitz
ED Clancy has roared into the Jayco Herald Sun yellow jersey after a stunning blast through the Melbourne CBD.
The triple Olympic gold medal-winning track cyclist powered around the tight and twisting 1.6km course in 1 min 54.95 secs to edge out Trek-Segafredo’s Mads Pederson (1:55.38) by 0.61 sec and Aqua Blue’s Lasse Norman Hansen (1:55.46) and snatch leadership of Australia’s oldest stage race.
Less than a second separated the top four riders.
Clancy, 32, made a mockery of a slight headwind to average more than 50km/h in the best road cycling result of his distinguished career.
The Brit has won five world championships and won gold at three different Olympic Games — Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro.
“People know me from the track and I’ve been fortunate to have some great experiences there,” Clancy said.
“This is the biggest result on the road by far. I’m over the moon.”
Clancy was the 10th rider down the start ramp and sat in the hot seat on stage as an army of rivals tried and failed to beat him.
“When I saw it was shortened from 2.1km to 1.6km my eyes instantly lit up. When you see the names [riding after him], I tried to play it cool, but I was really worried for the last half-hour.”
Clancy will today defend the yellow jersey in a 161.6km Stage 2 journey from Colac to Warrnambool that should finish in a bunch sprint.
The peloton will then travel to Ballarat and Lake Mountain before Sunday’s Kinglake circuits in a tour 107km longer than last year.