Cycling: Goss wins first stage

Matt Goss of Australia and team HTC Highroad celebrates after winning the stage during Stage One of the 2011 Tour Down Under. Photo / Getty Images

Australian cyclist Matt Goss has won the opening stage of the Tour Down Under with a well executed sprint at the Barossa town of Angaston.

Goss took out the stage today ahead of defending tour champion Andre Greipel and Australian legend Robbie McEwen.

As expected, the 138km stage from the northern Adelaide suburb of Mawson Lakes came down to a bunch sprint and Goss proved too powerful on the slight uphill finish.

He gained a perfect lead out from HTC-Highroad team mate Mark Renshaw and is continuing his outstanding start to the year.

Goss, from Tasmania, won the Jayco Bay Classic series, then finished second at the National Road titles and also won Sunday's Cancer Council Classic street race in Adelaide.

He is now considered the man to beat at this year's Santos Tour.

Greg Henderson headed the New Zealand trio in 10th while Julian Dean was 27th after the bunched sprint and Hayden Roulston crossed in 80th position, one place ahead of Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong.

Tuesday's stage was held in near perfect conditions, with the temperature in the mid twenties and virtually no wind.

A break away group of five riders went away early and included Australian's Simon Clarke and Mitch Docker.

But the race came back together with about 10km left as the teams of the main sprinters set up their fast men for the finish.

- AAP