The only Australian rider to have won a stage in all three grand tours, Simon Gerrans, has taken out the 2012 national elite men's road race championship in Buninyong.In what has been described as the best championship race ever seen and before a record crowd estimated at 20,000, Gerrans outlasted fellow Victorian Matt Lloyd and Tasmanian Richie Porte to claim the gold medal.

In a race orchestrated by Australia's maiden pro-tour team, GreenEDGE, Gerrans was the final bullet inside the team's barrel after Cameron Meyer, Matt Wilson, Stuart O'Grady and Luke Durbridge all took turns at the front. Last year's winner, Jack Bobridge, was the initial attacker on the very first lap. It was a sign of things to come for GreenEDGE's rivals.

Simon Gerrans takes out the 2012 elite men's road race championship in Buninyong.

Cameron Meyer thought whatever his brother (Travis won the title in 2010) could do, he could do as well, as i'm sure he could. He opened up a gap on the rest of around three-and-a-half minutes with seven laps remaining and it began to look like GreenEDGE had broken the hearts of the others around them.

Heinrich Haussler said no way and set upon trying to get across to Meyer. Unfortunately he was tailed by Meyer's teammate Luke Durbridge who sat behind the Garmin Cervelo rider like a shy school kid. The pair were caught in no-man's land for awhile before Haussler tapped Meyer on the back and said 'it's my turn'. Just as he did, he was caught by the peloton.

Meyer had ran out of gas but GreenEDGE had ample re-enforcements.Out of the pack once again went O'Grady this time with Team Sky's Matthew Hayman. It wouldn't last up the Midland Highway however and whilst Gerrans, Porte and Lloyd tried to drop those around them, the race was still in the balance.

On the final lap up the Midland Highway near the feed-zone the winning move was made. Again the aforementioned trio lifted the tempo. The crowd on Mt.Buninyong forgot their barbeques and downed stubbies for cameras; race vehicles scampered to get out of the way as Gerrans, Porte and Lloyd stood on the pedals for the final time.

The elite men's podium (l-r): Matt Lloyd (2nd), Simon Gerrans (1st) and Richie Porte (3rd).

It was difficult to distinguish just who was more popular with the fans. Lloyd, a previous winner of the title, has seen difficult times of late but appears to be reviving his career. Gerrans is as solid as they come and always willing and Porte has achieved much in his short career.

Whoever would wear gold there was no doubt they would be a popular winner. The trio descended in the shade of Fisken road with the race to themselves. A huge crowd awaited the trio in Buninyong, many of them returing from the mountain. Gerrans shot clear of Porte and Lloyd half-way down the straight and saluted arms outstretched on the line to the delight of thousands.

It had been a brilliant day for cycling in Australia and our newly registered pro-tour team GreenEDGE.The national jersey couldn't be on a better bloke.

Western Australian mechanic Anthony Giacoppo continued the great run of wins by Genesys Wealth Advisers in Ballarat yesterday with victory in the elite men's national criterium championship. Giacoppo upstage a crack field to hold out Rabobank rider Mark Renshaw and teammate Steele Von Hoff before a record crowd in Sturt Street.

Earlier South Australian Alexis Rhodes rode away from the peloton to win the women's elite race defeating under 23 champion Melissa Hoskins and Annette Edmondson. New South Welshman Scott Law impressively won the men's under 23 race from Jay McCarthy and 2011 winner Ben Grenda.

Women's elite podium spray (l-r): Melissa Hoskins (2nd), Alexis Rhodes (1st), and Annette Edmondson (3rd).

Having on of the world's best lead-out riders was always going to be a handy wheel to follow and Giacoppo used this to his advantage. "I just went straight off Renshaw's wheel and never looked back."he said.Renshaw, riding in his new colours of the Dutch registered pro-tour team was happy with his silver medal. "I felt good, it's my first race", he explained."I said earlier I would be happy to podium and I've done that, so I'm where I need to be".

New Australian pro-tour outfit GreenEDGE was represented by Baden Cooke who finished in sixth place and Robbie McEwen who finished down the list in 33rd place. Both will be key players in the prestigious road race in Buninyong on Sunday.Local hope Patrick Shaw joined Adam Semple, Zak Dempster and Michael Cuppit in an attempt to steal the show in the concluding laps.

Anthony Giacoppo takes out the elite men's national criterium championship in Ballarat.

Western Australian Semple, would pull on the MARS jersey, awarded for most sprint points during the race. Victorian Dempster and New South Wales rider Dean Windsor tried several solo attacks in an effort to flick the peloton. Tasmanian Bernard Sulzberger riding for his new British Raleigh Professional Cycling Team continued his early season form finishing just off the podium in fourth place after taking home the sprint points jersey in the recent Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.

In the women's, Rhodes opened up a break over the field with twelve of the thirty lap race to go. It was daylight to second and a delighted Melissa Hoskins who was not only happy for her GreenEDGE teammate's win but her own gold in the under 23's.

Rhodes has only recently returned to the bike after a six month lay-off and is again hoping for a strong showing from her teammates in the road race."If I don't win on Saturday, I really hope one of my team-mates do," Rhodes said. "Hopefully we can really dictate the race like we did tonight, but there are probably other people who have a lot of other ideas as well."

The Championships will resume tomorrow with the men's under 23 and women's elite and under 23 road races beginning at 9.30am in Buninyong.