Jay claims first with final sprint
Queenslander Jay McCarthy has become the first Australian winner of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, outsprinting his rivals to break through for the biggest win of his career.
Protected by teammate Daniel Oss over the concluding stages, McCarthy beat a bunch finish to claim race honours in gruelling heat, the race taking more than four hours to complete.
Italian Elia Viviani (Quick Step) was second, with South African pre-race favourite Daryl Impey (Mitchelton Scott) third.
“I’ve been thereabouts all summer (so) to finish off my last race here in Australia before we go overseas and win, (I’m) speechless, “McCarthy said.
“We had Daniel, who has been getting better as he’s been here in Australia. I needed him there so I could stay calm coming into sprint. It worked out.”
Colombian Esteban Chaves led all riders entering the final stages and for a moment looked as though he might pinch the race. But the chasing group swallowed him up over the final kilometres.
“I was worried about him (Chaves),” McCarthy admitted.
“I was worried about the group coming up behind us. I was in a good position coming to the sprint road. It worked perfectly.”
McCarthy said the extreme heat – riders battled temperatures in excess of 40°C – might have helped him at the finish.
“I’m used to it,” he said. “It still hurts.
“It was more humid than it normally is in Victoria. As a Queenslander, we get humidity up there. The two together doesn’t work too bad for me.”