ID :
24086
Sun, 10/12/2008 - 21:34
Auther :

Goss takes the lead Herald Sun Tour

Tasmania's Matt Goss will wear the yellow leader's jersey into Monday's opening
stage of the Herald Sun Tour cycling race after winning Sunday's criterium.
The 22-year-old credited experienced CSC Saxo Bank team-mate Stuart O'Grady for
doing the hard work to set him up for Sunday's win.
Goss made his move on the last of the 21 laps of a 2.1km course through the streets
of Traralgon, in Victoria's Latrobe Valley.
"Stu (O'Grady) did the hard part and I got to do the easy part," Goss said.
"Having a guy like that in front gives you a lot of confidence.
"It's always nervous in a bunch sprint, (but you're) not so much nervous about the
guys around you, more about if you make the right decisions."
Goss wisely held off as Baden Cooke and Hilton Clarke rubbed shoulders through the
last corner.
As that high-profile pair concentrated on each other, Goss shot past with 150m to go
to claim the win.
Cooke finished second and Clarke third, with Cooke happy to make the podium after
being involved in a crash less than halfway through the race.
"I might have to see a chiropractor tonight because I gave myself a bit of a whack,"
Cooke said.
Clarke, one of the pre-race favourites, said Goss had timed his run well.
"Goss rode brilliantly and there was nothing we could do about it," he said.
Earlier, defending champion Matt Wilson was part of a breakaway group, along with
Daryl Impey, Peter McDonald and Eric Wolhberg, but they were reeled in by the main
bunch with three laps to go, leading to the tight finish.
Monday's opening stage is 130.4km from Traralgon to Inverloch.


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