Swiss champion Mauro Schmid held off an elite chasing pack in searing heat to win the first World Tour one-day classic of the season on Sunday at the Cadel Evans Road Race in Australia.
The Jayco Alula rider made his move on the downhill section of the final climb at Geelong with some seven kilometres left, opening a 10-second gap and clinging on for a solo finish in 4hrs 26.07mins.
Aaron Gate (Astana) narrowly pipped fellow New Zealander and last year's winner Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) into second, three seconds behind Schmid.
Australia's Rudy Porter (ARA) took the King of the Mountain honours on a day when temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
"I think this is pretty close to the top," said Schmid when asked if it was his career highlight. "It's the first race I've won at World Tour level.
"The team helped me prepare as well," he added.
"I came quite early to Australia. It was a big race for me, a big race for the team, so super happy that we could put a result together."
A field of 98 riders set off on the 184km course which began and ended in Geelong and took in the southern coastline of Australia's Victoria state.
FOUR STEEP ASCENTS
It culminated in four steep ascents up Challambra Crescent, before a final downhill slope – where Schmid made his move – to the waterfront finish.
Italy's Andrea Raccagni Noviero made an early break and spent over 100km at the front by himself, building a seven-minute cushion.
But he tired and was swallowed up by the peloton on the first of the four climbs.
Schmid's teammate Chris Harper took charge after the third Challambra climb, powering into a 40-second lead with 17km to go.
But he was caught on the final ascent by a pack including Schmid who came over the summit fastest and couldn't be caught.
The Cadel Evans Road Race is named after Australia's four-time Olympic cyclist and 2011 Tour de France winner.
New Zealand's Ally Wollaston edged the Netherlands' Karlijn Swinkels to win the women's contest on Saturday.