BALLARAT professional cyclist Pat Shaw is celebrating his first major victory on Australian soil.
Shaw clinched the three-day Tour of Toowoomba yesterday — the third event in the 12-race National Road Series.
Riding for the Queensland-based Virgin Blue RBS Morgan
team, Shaw did enough with a third in the fourth and last stage to take overall honours by two seconds.
''It was a hard race,'' Shaw said.
''It's really good to win for the team.''
Shaw's consistency was the key to his success, with thirds in three stages.
Shaw's team-mate and fellow Ballarat rider Rhys Gillett was also prominent before crashing out in the third stage.