PAT Shaw has so far justified Cycling Australia’s decision to sign him on with the national team for the Herald Sun Tour, with the veteran Ballarat rider putting in a superb ride to finish sixth in yesterday’s opening stage from Geelong to Ballarat.
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Shaw managed to stay in touch over the two major climbs of the day before impressing in the bunch sprint up Sturt Street.
“I was happy with the result, of course, and it’s great to be able to represent the jersey and do it proud,” he said after the race.
“The race could have gone either two ways – it could have been really well controlled by a team like Orica-GreenEDGE or it could have blown out and that’s what happened to some extent.”
Shaw is riding in the title defence of last year’s winner Calvin Watson, who finished in 18th position on the stage, but he expects to going to get tougher over the next three days.
Ballarat’s other competing rider, Rhys Gillett, has also impressed over the first two days.
Gillett finished in 30th position on the stage and currently sits in 24th position overall.