Jordan Kerby claims victory in Jayco Herald Sun Tour prologue

JORDAN Kerby will wear the yellow jersey for stage one of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour tomorrow after taking out the prologue at Williamstown.

QUEENSLANDER Jordan Kerby will wear the yellow jersey for stage one of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour tomorrow after taking out the prologue at Williamstown.

Kerby was the 40th of 108 riders to tackle the 4.7km course, but his mark of 5 minutes, 25 seconds stood the test of time.

Joseph Cooper (Genesys Wealth Advisors, 5:26) and David Kelly (Total Rush, 5:29), who was first on to the track, rounded out the top three.

Australian national team riders, and leading Sun Tour contenders, Simon Gerrans and Simon Clarke posted identical times of 5:31, placing them inside the top 10.

Teammate, and defending champion, Nathan Haas was the last rider on course and moved in to 10th, also posting 5:31.

It should be no surprise that Kerby, of Suzuki-Bontrager, topped the table given his pedigree on the track. He's a former junior world champion in both the points race and team pursuit. He also won a stage at last year's Tour of Gippsland.

Jordan Kerby

The 20-year-old admitted time trialling is ''probably my strong point'' but said he didn't expect to win the stage. ''I just tried to chill out because I think there were about 70 guys still to go (afterwards) and some big names,'' Kerby said.

''I kind of expected for someone to do a better time, but rider by rider went and they weren't beating me so I was getting a bit more excited towards the last 10 guys.''

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Kerby, who also took the white jersey for being the tour's leading under 23 rider, said ''it is an honour'' to hold the yellow jersey.

''It's a big tour with all these big names - it's on my shoulders too,'' he said. ''It's going to be a big task trying to keep the jersey but we'll always do what we can.''

Stage one tomorrow, a 147.7km trek from Sunbury to Bendigo, begins at 9.30am. The start time was pushed forward two hours due to the extreme heat forecast.

A top of 41 degrees is expected in Melbourne, but temperatures are expected to soar well in to the 40s in country Victoria.

JAYCO HERALD SUN TOUR Prologue: Williamstown

1. Jordan Kerby (QLD) Suzuki Bontrager 5:25
2. Joseph Cooper (NZL) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisors +1
3. David Kelly (VIC) Total Rush - Hyster Racing +3
4. Adam Phelan (ACT) Degani Bakery Cafe +5
5. Luke Davison (NSW) Sasi Cycling P/B Feelgood Fitness +5
6. Anthony Giacoppo (W.A) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisors +5
7. Simon Gerrans (VIC) Jayco Australian National Team +6
8. Simon Clarke (VIC) Jayco Australian National Team +6
9. Aaron Donnelly (NSW) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisors +6
10. Nathan Haas (QLD) Jayco Australian National Team +6

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