Veteran Australian cyclist Rhys Pollock of domestic team Drapac Professional Cycling yesterday broke away for the biggest win of his career to take stage one of the 59th edition of the Jayco HeraldSun Tour.

Pollock, a former winner of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, was one of 15 riders who broke away just 10km into the race and managed to stay in contact with Australian road champion Jack Bobridge (Garmin-Cervelo) as he mounted several attacks to thin out the group which splintered as the race climbed out of Daylesford.

In a gutsy effort on the outskirts of the finishing town of Ballarat, Pollock countered an attack by Bobridge with an attack of his own, managing to open and hold a small gap, despite not feeling at his best.

"I don't know, I just did it," said Pollock from the podium, "The legs weren't feeling the greatest when I went."

Pollock's gap on the rest of the field allowed him to enjoy the final few hundred metres of the race as it curved its way around the shores of Lake Wendouree. After a quick check over the shoulder to confirm his lead, Pollock began his celebrations early, to the delight of hundreds of cowbell ringing school children, coasting across the line to claim victory by 13 seconds over WorldTour riders Bobridge, Jonas Aen Jorgensen (Saxo Bank-Sungard), Jens Debusschere (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and domestic rider Nathan Haas (Genesys Wealth Advisors), with Jorgensen and Haas finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Nathan Haas collected the green sprinters jersey after collecting maximum points at the two intermediate sprints, and with the resultant time bonuses now sits in second place on general classification, 15 seconds behind overall leader Pollock. He also finds himself leading the best young rider classification.

King of the Mountain honours rest with race leader Pollock. While conditions were perfect for cycling, the racing was fierce, with the local teams keen to take it up to their more fancied WorldTour rivals. Garmin-Cervelo, Saxo Bank-Sungard, Omega Pharma-Lotto and Katusha are first tier teams that compete at the highest level with annual budgets in excess of ten million dollars. That small, domestic Australian teams can be competitive against such giants is testament to the depth of cycling talent that now exists in this country.

Stage two will see the riders leave Ballarat and make their way to Geelong, taking in climbs at Buninyong and Maude as the race winds its way through the Brisbane Ranges. However race drawcard Richie Porte (Saxo Bank-Sungard, pictured above) will not be among the starters after withdrawing 100km into stage one due to fatigue and illness brought on by the effects of a long season and recent surgery.

While the race has four more stages to run, it seems a certainty that the winner will come from the current top 10, with the rest of the group out of contention more than eight minutes back. Jack Bobridge, in fourth place 23 seconds behind Pollock after time bonuses, appears to be the best positioned rider to mount a challenge for the title. It promises to be an intriguing race.