Goss wins Tour Down Under cycling opener

Adelaide: Tasmanian Matthew Goss maintained his fine early season form by winning the first stage of the Tour Down Under ahead of sprint rival and reigning champion Andre Greipel.

Germany`s Greipel, who has won the overall title twice, finished in second place for his new team Omega-Pharma with Australian Robbie McEwen of RadioShack in third. Held over 138 kilometres (85 miles) from Mawson Lakes to Angaston in the hilly wine region outside Adelaide, the first stage proper was marked by an early five-man breakaway.They were reeled in with less than 10 km remaining, guaranteeing a bunch sprint on a slightly uphill home straight where Goss jumped out from behind the wheel of lead-out man Mark Renshaw to surge to a convincing victory. It was Goss`s second win of the race, the Australian having also won the pre-race criterium over 51 km on Sunday which does not count towards the overall standings.American Tour de France icon Lance Armstrong, the winner of seven yellow jerseys, will bring the curtain down on his career when the race finishes Sunday. Bureau Report