The 27-year-old edged out Chris Sutton by the barest of margins, with little more than a tyre width separating the Australian duo after 20 laps of a torturous 2.2-kilometre circuit in the city's central business district.

Cantwell goes into today's opening stage, which starts and ends in Wendouree Parade at the botanical gardens, chock-full of confidence.

It has been a sensational year for Cantwell and his team Fly V Australia.

"I think that's my 25th win for the season," an exhausted Cantwell said.

On top of this, Cantwell says his team has chalked up 80 to 90 victories in the United States, Asia and Australia.

The strength of the outfit was highlighted yesterday, with Cantwell having two teammates in what turned out to be the race-winning breakaway.

Cantwell said his team had done a great job covering breakaways on the street circuit to ensure it maintained what has become an imposing opening day record in Australia this season.

He said only once, in the Tour of Gippsland, had Fly V Australia not triumphed on the opening day of a stage event, with Australian criterium champion Bernard Sulzberger being the team's other ace in the pack.

"It's been me or him - depending on conditions.

"One day I'll ride for him and the next he rides for me.

"We have so many cards up our sleeve we can do anything," Cantwell said.

He said finishing off the season strongly in this tour was a priority for the team.

"We're willing to do anything for each other...we're all mates".

Cantwell said he would love to wear the yellow jersey.

"It's the Herald Sun Tour, anything can happen," he said suggesting Fly V Australia might be looking to put him the lead of the six-stage event, which ends in Melbourne on Saturday.

Gene Bates (Drapac Porsche) finished third in the preface, which attracted thousands of spectators in warm spring conditions.

Australian Institute of Sport's Michael Matthews made most of the running, staying away by himself until the halfway mark.

Despite being caught, he remained prominent and took out the sprint on lap 15 before finishing fourth.