Marius Mayrhofer claims Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race win

Marius Mayrhofer made it a holiday to remember for his parents after claiming his first World Tour win.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Marius Mayrhofer of Germany and Team DSM celebrates at podium as race winner during the 7th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2023 - Men's Elite a 174,3km one day race from Geelong to Geelong / #CadelRoadRace / on January 29, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

GERMAN rider Marius Mayrhofer made it a holiday to remember for his parents after claiming his first World Tour win at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

The 22 year old held off sprint sensations Simon Clarke and Michael Matthews, as well as French rider Huge Page, to claim his first professional win for Team DSM.

Mayrhofer said having his parents in attendance made the victory even sweeter.

“My parents combined this race with a holiday,” he said.

“Since Covid they‘ve been really limited in travelling and everything like everyone, so now when I got the news I was doing the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans, I told them and they thought it’d be a nice holiday.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: (L-R) Hugo Page of France and Team Intermarché - Circus - Wanty on second place, race winner Marius Mayrhofer of Germany and Team DSM and Simon Clarke of Australia and Team Israel - Premier Tech on third place pose on the podium ceremony after the 7th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2023 - Men's Elite a 174,3km one day race from Geelong to Geelong / #CadelRoadRace / on January 29, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

“So I‘m happy they are here, and they’re also really happy they can be here with me and celebrate with me.

In a chaotic sprint to the finish, there was carnage on the final straight, with multiple riders hitting the tarmac.

Mayrhofer was ahead of the crash at the time, busy chasing down rising Australian star Luke Plapp with 400m to go.

He held off Page and Clarke in a bitter fight to the end, crossing the line first by the length of a bike.

Mayrhofer said it meant “everything” to take his first win.

“Straight after the finish I was completely done emotionally, I really couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“It’s a great result (to beat the sprinters at the end) … there were also other guys who are really strong.

“It’s a World Tour race so of course they’re the strongest riders in the world, and if you want to win you have to be up there.

Mayrhofer said he was excited to take on a European summer season, but he stopped short of declaring his intentions for the next World Tour race he would participate in.

“It’s hard to say, we take as much motivation from this weekend into the next races,” he said.

“I will see with my team what races we do and what my role will be, I’m still 22 and it’s a great win for me, but still we want to keep the pressure low and to perform as good as we can.

“I really wanted to take my first win which I did now, of course I will not rest and keep training and keep pushing.”

Originally published as Marius Mayrhofer claims Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race win