2012 kicks off with the start of the four day Jayco Bay Classic in Geelong, Australia with the Ritchie Boulevard Stage. All eyes were on GreeEdge-AIS, the newly minted and first ever UCI ProTeam level Australian cycling team. Despite Aussie talent like Robbie McEwen and Matt Goss the team was denied their historic first victory by ex-Sky rider and Kiwi, Greg Henderson. Racing for Degani Bakery Café, Henderson was part of a breakaway late in the race that lapped the field and saw all but 15 riders, including McEwen and Goss, eliminated.

GreenEdge-AIS had Leigh Howard and Wesley Sulzberger in the move and the final laps saw attack after attack as the new team was desperate to open their account with a victory. Henderson had two riders of how own, Dean Windsor and Zak Dempster, and they kept the attacks in check and saw Henderson in perfect position for the sprint.

Henderson is now leading the four day series which continues tomorrow with the Geelong Eastern Park race. The Kiwi has 12 points to Sutton’s 10 and Davis’ 8. 

1 Greg Henderson (NZ) Degani Bakery Cafe             0:59:58 

2 Chris Sutton (NSW) Urban Hotels 

3 Allan Davis (QLD) Mitchelton Wines / Lowe Farms 

4 Bernie Sulzberger (Tas) Urban Hotels 

5 Steele Von Hoff (Tas) Bike Bug 

6 Anthony Giacoppo (WA) Bike Bug 

7 Dean Windsor (NSW) Degani Bakery Cafe 

8 Leigh Howard (Vic) GreenEdge Cycling 

9 Caleb Ewan (NSW) NSWIS 

10 Zak Dempster (Vic) Degani Bakery Cafe                0:00:09