The first stage of my year is mostly flat. But there is a short 4th category climb just before the finish. Will this make a difference?

Here we are in beautiful Australia, where my season kicks off!

Nathan Haas got in the early morning break for us, slotting in at the back of the 5 rider selection.

With 25 km to go the pack is charging ahead with Cannondale and BMC on the front. Only 1:20 to the break and the gap is plummeting with the climb just ahead.

As we hit the climb the break was just about reeled in. I headed to the front with Bauer pulling me. Slagter and Dennis were behind.

The Astana pulled peloton drudged up the climb. Bauer gave me the heads up that he was faltering, and proceeded to crack about half a km later. Luckily, Haas started pulling me as soon as he fell back into the pack, even after being in the break all day. What an effort by him!

Over the top Haas cracked as well. Dennis was coming over my left shoulder with Slagter sitting behind. I just followed the relay train.

2 km to go and Dennis is pulling me up. Cannondale was completely unorganized, and both BMC and Lotto pushing their "trains" forward. However, they ahd been down to their leadout men for a few km already. It would all come down to who had the most left as Marcato tries to bridge up. It's between him, Gallopin, and Hushovd.

But it's Marcato who took it! And his teammate Gatto gets third! It worked out after all! Gallopin comes up just short, and I sprint to 4th, just by following wheels!

This stage has more hills than stage 1, but they aren't steep at all.

Early on the break consisted of Delage from FDJ and Kern from Europcar.

We were told to send someone u to pace by the team car. I guess that's understandable. So Nathan Brown and Haas started pulling the pack along half way through the race.

It was around that time that Christian Meier joined the breakaway. He slotted in as they went past the fallen trees along the road.

Once again it was BMC who took up the pacing. I was slotted behind with Rohan as we went over the hilly circuit.

2nd time around and he break was about a minute away with 20 km to go. With the pace being set, it wouldn't be long before they were consumed into the peloton again.

5 km to go and the break was caught, but so was I. I slipped backwards when the pace had gone up and Dennis was trying to pull me back up despite the horrible speed.

BMC had the perfect leadout going and sped through the final kilometers. As Oss pulled off Hushovd was well ahead of the rest.

Hushovd took it! And Oss gets 2nd for the 1-2. That Garmin rider on the left is me. It was quite a sprint there between the 4 of us. I came home 9th. I'm not a sprinter, so I just hope I save enough for Wilunga.

For lack of will or care I will only tell you the other classifications on the final day unless I am involved or a teammate is. Time for stage 3!