Zak Dempster, riding for SASI, punches the air in delight after winning the first big race of summer. Source: Mitch Bear / News Limited
VICTORIAN cycling journeyman Zak Dempster has turned the Bay Cycling Classic on its head, upstaging a high-profile field to win the first race of the summer.
Dempster, riding for SASI, surged on the last lap of the tight "hotdog" circuit at Geelong's Eastern Beach to win from Felix English and Brenton Jones and leave defending champion Caleb Ewan clutching at thin air.
"I couldn't be happier: January 2nd and one win, so it's one more than last year," Dempster, 27, said.
"I felt pretty good. I could tell after the warm-up that I was in good shape and after all the training I've done in the last two months. I was just trying to stay in the first five because on this course you're only on the pedals for 20 seconds and then you get a rest around the corners."
English will take the green jersey into stage two at Eastern Park after winning all three intermediate sprints.
In an extraordinary race, a commanding performance from the powerful Orica GreenEDGE counted for naught as an early breakaway from Blair Windsor, who would later crash out, proved the decisive move.
A talented group of seven - including Dempster, English, Jones and GreenEDGE pair Luke Durbridge and Matt Goss - opened a gap of 33 seconds on the main field, which they threatened to lap for much of the race.
Ewan, still bandaged from a heavy fall last week, was left stranded without teammates in the second group. The teenager launched two solo attacks but was twice pulled back by Mitch Docker (GreenEDGE) and Steele Von Hoff (Procon Telematics), who were protecting teammates in the breakaway.
The race appeared set up for either national time trial and road champion Durbridge or sprinter Goss, but the GreenEDGE duo couldn't capitalise. Durbridge attacked with three laps to go but couldn't break clear, while Goss was caught in the mayhem as his breakaway group eventually lapped the main field.
Dempster, who had waited patiently, seized his chance to surge clear of both.
"I've been racing those guys for a few years now and I was second around here to Mark Renshaw a few years ago so I thought it would be disappointing if I didn't win a stage with the shape I think I'm in," Dempster said.
"You could see guys like 'Gossy' just labouring a little bit as he comes into shape for the spring classics, so we tried to put the pressure on with Harry Carpenter attacking. That really played into my hands because I got a rest for a bit so I felt strong on the last lap."
The strongest women's field in Bay Classic history was dominated by Italian sprint powerhouse Giorgia Bronzini.
The Italian, returning to the city where she won the first of her road world titles in 2010, was perfectly place leading into the last lap before powering over the line ahead of Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS) and Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized Securitor).
"I might have to buy a house here," Bronzini said of renewing happy memories.
In a comprehensive performance, Bronzini claimed the overall leader's yellow jersey and points jersey after winning the second intermediate sprint in a race marred by two early crashes.
Bronzini's win was set up by teammates Peta Mullens and Linda Villumsen, with Mullens' aggressive early attacks slashing the field in half.
"I'm very happy. It is a good way to start the new season with my Wiggle teammates," Bronzini said.
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