"It's unbelievable, it was a spectacular day," said Mattis who now leads the World Cup series. "The spectators were awesome and the course was really hard and my team raced great."

Eighty five riders started the 120 kilometre event raced over eight laps of a picturesque 14.9km circuit out and back from Waterfront Geelong and the pace was high from the gun with 12 riders breaking away early.

But Team High Road powered the chase on the front of the peloton and the 12 leaders were reeled in on the fourth lap.

Cervelo Lifeforce riders then launched a series of attacks with Rickards finally breaking clear followed close behind by Mattis. The pair steadily increased their lead with the margin blowing out to almost seven minutes by the sixth lap. A late charge by team High Road narrowed the margin but it was too little too late. With one kilometre to go, and still holding a lead of over two minutes, Mattis and Rickards engaged in a series of stalling tactics with neither wanting to take the lead. Two hundred metres from home Mattis launched the sprint and Rickards couldn't match it giving the 33 year old American the biggest win of her career.

"I could have never guessed it would be the two of us out there together, but it's just great," said Mattis. "With about a kilometre to go, it became a cat and mouse game and I am not known as a sprinter but I sort of unleashed my inner sprinter I guess."

For Rickards, it was a case of so close and yet so far.

"I have some mixed emotions because when you go so close, of course you want to be in that jersey, but to finish second in a World Cup is just amazing," said the 24 year old Victorian. "I felt confident that I could finish off with a good sprint, but it wasn't quite to be.

"But for a World Cup and one in my own country I am ecstatic that I am on the podium, it's the best result for me ever," Rickards added.

German star Ina Tuetenberg (Team High Road) once again showed her class by sprinting home in third at the head of the main peloton one minute and eight seconds behind the leaders.

However she lamented a missed opportunity and was disappointed by the lack of assistance given to her and her High Road team mates during the chase.

"We did everything we could, the girls were falling off the bike at the end of the race, so you couldn't ask for more, but maybe we miscalculated and should have gone a little bit earlier," said Teutenberg.

The next World Cup round will be raced in Italy on 24 March.

About the Event
World Cup comes to Geelong for sixth time

Geelong will play host to the opening round of the UCI Women's Road Cycling World Cup for the sixth successive year when the world’s best elite women cyclists line up on the Geelong Waterfront on Sunday 24 February. The race kicks off at 10.30am.

The World Cup is being staged as a feature event in the Wheels on Waterfront Geelong festival of sport and family activities incorporating the UCI World Cup and for cycling enthusiasts two participation rides, the 80km Geelong World Cup Challenge and the FREE Geelong Advertiser Family Fun Ride which provides an opportunity for the whole family to ride a lap of the World Cup course.

Head to Steampacket Gardens on Waterfront Geelong to catch all the race action live on the superscreen with non-stop commentary and enjoy music, jumping castles, face painting and much more. 

The 2007 Geelong UCI Women’s Road World Cup race featured Olympic, World and World Cup Series champions in the starting list and 2008 promises to again showcase the outstanding talent in the women’s professional ranks.

The peloton will contest eight laps of a tough 15km circuit for a total race distance of 120 kilometres. They will race out along the picturesque Geelong Waterfront before heading west of the City of Greater Geelong that provides spectacular scenery for the fans but no rest for the riders.

Australia has hosted a round of the World Cup every year since its inception.

Points towards the overall World Cup Series crown are awarded to the first 20 riders in each round.

Points towards an individual's world ranking are awarded to the first 50 riders in each round with additional points awarded to riders ranked in the top ten overall at the completion of the World Cup Series.

Geelong is the largest regional centre in the State of Victoria, situated approximately 75km south west of the state capital Melbourne on the shores of Corio Bay.

In the week leading up to the World Cup the women will contest the two day Geelong Tour.

The UCI Women’s Road World Cup and the Geelong Tour are proudly supported by the Victorian Government and the City of Greater Geelong.