Marius Mayrhofer secures victory in Cadel Evans’ Great Ocean Road Race

The 22-year-old held off sprint sensations Simon Clarke and Michael Matthews and France’s Huge Page to claim his first professional win for Team DSM.

Mayrhofer said that having his parents there made the win even sweeter.

“My parents combined this race with a vacation,” he said.

“Since Covid they’re really restricted with travel and everything like everyone. Now when I got the news that I was doing the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans, I told them and they thought it would be a nice vacation.

“So I’m glad they’re here and they’re also really happy that they can be here with me and celebrate with me.

In a chaotic sprint to the finish, carnage ensued on the final straight, with several drivers hitting the tarmac.

Mayrhofer was pre-crash at the time and busy chasing down rising Australian star Luke Plapp with 400m to go.

He held off Page and Clarke in a bitter fight to the end, crossing the finish line first by a bicycle’s length.

Mayrhofer said it meant “everything” to get his first win.

“Right after crossing the finish line I was emotionally exhausted, I could hardly believe it,” he said.

“It’s a great result (to beat the sprinters at the end)…there were other guys who are really strong too.

“It’s a World Tour race so obviously they’re the strongest riders in the world and if you want to win you have to be up there.

Mayrhofer said he was looking forward to starting a European summer season but paused briefly to explain his intentions for the next World Tour race he would be competing in.

“It’s hard to say, we’re taking just as much motivation from this weekend into the next races,” he said.

“I’ll see with my team what races we do and what my role will be, I’m still 22 and it’s a great win for me but still we want to keep the pressure down and do as well as we can.

“I really wanted to get my first win, which I did now. Of course I will not rest and will continue to train and push.”

Originally published as Marius Mayrhofer claiming victory in Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race