Cycling great Chris Froome has paid tribute to the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic after rising star Tristan Saunders broke through for the biggest win of his career.
Seven-time Grand Tour winner Froome was a late entry to Saturday's race, using it as part of an extended block of training and racing ahead of his European campaign.
But it was 22-year-old Saunders who claimed top honours, two minutes and 59 seconds clear of Brendon Green (Cycling Development Foundation), who held on for second.
Bailey McDonald (NCMG Criterion Racing) took out the final podium place with a strong sprint finish.
Saunders launched a brave solo attack with almost 20km left to race and later gave credit to his Bridgelane teammates, in particular Sam Jenner, who helped put him in a great position.
"This race, it's such a special race," Saunders said.
"It's my fourth go and I've wanted to win every time I've started.
"This team put it together so well and I can't thank them enough."
Froome competed at Adelaide's Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong this summer.
The 37-year-old was the biggest name among the 125 starters in the 265.9km "Warny" event, one of the oldest one-day races in world cycling.
"I came here looking for a hard training ride and that's exactly what I got," Froome said.
"I finished completely cross-eyed over the finish line there."
Froome admitted the race tactics took him by surprise, with a group of 29 forming an early escape.
The four-times Tour de France winner and Ben Hill (Blackshaw Racing) went in pursuit of the leaders.
"We never made it back to the front," Froome said.
"(It was a) big day out and big chase to try and get there, so congrats to whoever came over the line first - I didn't actually get to see that far ahead, but that was a great event."
Froome's participation was a huge boost for an event that remains an Australian cycling institution but has struggled for funding and profile.
The women's 155.7km Warrnambool Classic will be held on Sunday, starting from the country town of Colac at 9am.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Chloe Hosking, who is trying to secure a professional contract for this season after her team fell through, headlines the field of 52 riders.
