Calvin Watson takes out Herald Sun Tour

VICTORIAN Calvin Watson will never forget his 20th birthday after becoming the youngest winner of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

Herald Sun Tour

VICTORIAN Calvin Watson will never forget his 20th birthday after becoming the youngest winner of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour on his first attempt.

Local knowledge proved vital for the Frankston resident given he usually rides the Arthurs Seat climb -- the end point of the final 93km stage from Moonah Links -- twice a week.

The Jayco VIS Apollo rider's win comes just months after being snubbed for a place in this year's national Under-23 squad, a team which he was a part of last season.

"I came here really wanting to chase a result and prepare for the nationals because I was fuelled by a bit of anger and disappointment at being left out of the national program," Watson said.

"I'm happy that I can show them I'm a real force in Australian cycling.

"I couldn't be happier with this result. It means so much and to be on the honour roll with absolute champions in Australian cycling, I'm so happy.

"Thanks so much to the VIS guys. We came here as underdogs and we really showed we weren't here to mess around."

Watson will later this year race in Europe for Hoppla-Wega, an Italian-based amateur team, searching for what he described as "a new beginning" to his cycling career.

But for now he's just happy to revel in his victory, born out of his courageous second-placed finish in Friday's scorching first stage in Bendigo.

Watson said he came in to yesterday's stage with a plan to attack overnight yellow jersey holder Aaron Donnelly (Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers) and third-placed Josh Atkins (New Zealand national team).

"We knew we had to put Donnelly under pressure so we raced for the win,'' he said.

"That was our tactic and it paid off in the end because we got to the bottom (of Arthurs Seat the first time) and Donnelly and Josh were straight out the back. We knew we had to race aggressive in the wind.

"This is my backyard and I couldn't ask for a better place to train because this is what it's all about.

"I knew the climb back-to-front and I knew where I could ease off and where I had to dig deep. I knew every corner and that really played in to my hands."

Watson finished 21st last night. Stage honours went to Donnelly's teammate Nathan Earle, who won ahead of 2012 Olympic mountain bike rider Dan McConnell (Suzuki Bontrager) and Mark O'Brien (SASI Cycling P/B
Feelgood Fitness).

"It's bittersweet," Earle said, noting his disappointment that Donnelly finished second overall, 37 seconds behind Watson.

"He couldn't hold on, but we did the best we could for him ... and at the end of the day that's all we can do."

Defending champion Nathan Haas claimed a consolation prize for an Australian national team that failed to impact the general classification, winning the King of the Mountain classification.

"Last year I came away with every jersey, but the King of the Mountain, so my job is done here, I'm happy to round the collection out," Haas joked.

Teammate Simon Clarke finished fourth in last night's stage and was best placed in his team overall, finishing seventh.Donnelly won the sprinters green jersey.