Canty holds head high after cycling drama

Brendan Canty says the reaction to his dramatic race at the Australian road cycling championships has been overwhelming.

Brendan Canty's eyes were red from the physical effort, not from tears of frustration.

The Cannondale-Drapac cyclist looked like he might have been crying when he gave a TV interview immediately after Sunday's Australian road race championships.

And no one would have blamed him.

Canty lived out every racing cyclist's nightmare when he thought he had won at Buninyong with a daring solo move, only to realise there was one lap left.

He still managed to stay with the lead pack that formed on the last 10km circuit and finished seventh.

Canty had smiled at the motorcycle camera and shook his fist on the finishing straight before realising his error.

It was one of several amazing moments in a pulsating race.

Despite his disappointment, the first-year WorldTour rider at Cannondale-Drapac has handled the mistake and its aftermath with class.

"I think it almost looked like I was crying in the interview, but I wasn't - it was just my eyes were really red and sore from the effort level," he told the cyclingtips website.

"I mean I am disappointed, but I definitely don't have my head down."

Canty added the reaction from family and friends had been overwhelming.

"A lot of people have mentioned that I made a mistake, but I was the most exciting thing about the nationals race this year and the way I conducted myself in the post-race interview and my attitude towards what happened was really great," he said.

"That's an important thing to take away and I think, if I can grow and learn from the experience, then I'm going to be a better person from it."

Canty will ride in the WorldTour debut for the first time from Sunday at Adelaide's Tour Down Under.

He will ride in support of Canadian teammate Michael Woods, who was fifth at the Tour a year ago.

Cannondale-Drapac will want Canty to be strong in the hills and he showed last Sunday that he boasts strong climbing form.

"It's my WorldTour debut; it's going to be a big race; it's going to be exciting," he said.

"There'll be a lot of things for me to take in and deal with while I'm there, so I think there's a little bit less pressure on me from that end.

"But at the same time, you know there is pressure for me to go really well and I want to perform and do what I can."