Dutch sprint ace Kirsten Wild has held off Australian cycling rival Chloe Hosking for a tight win at the inaugural Race Melbourne.
Hosking was also pleased with coming so close to Wild on a course that does not suit the Australian sprinter's strengths.
It was Wild's third win so far this month, after two stage wins and third place overall for the Cylance rider at the Adelaide Santos Women's Tour.
Predictably, the 63.6km race on the pancake-flat Albert Park F1 race came down to a bunch sprint.
Wild and Hosking were initially unsure who had won.
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"Chloe was coming really fast from the back ... we looked at each other and it was 'is it you? is it me?'," Wild said.
Wild said her strong form is particularly pleasing given they are a new lineup.
"We have a good communication in the race and it really works," she said of their sprint train.
Likewise, Hosking noted her Ale Cipollini team only has one returning rider and the Australian is pleased with her early-season speed.
"We're definitely exceeding expectations ... this was never a target for the team," she said.
"On a course like this, to get as close as we did to beating here, it's pretty good.
"I train to be good at the end of 140km, so to finish with Kirsten and be so close at the end, I am actually quite happy with that.
"Sometimes I wonder 'am I that fast?' and now I think I can confidently say 'no, I am that fast'."
Hosking and Wild will now compete on Saturday at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Rd race, their last Australian race before heading overseas.
Hosking finished a strong fourth at Cadel Evans last year, but is circumspect about her chances after the disappointment of the October world road championships.
After starting the road race among the favourites, Hosking finished seventh.
"I've learned to keep my cards close to my chest since worlds, so I'm just going to see how it goes," she said.
"The Orica-Scott girls are in super, super form - if I can survive, great."
While pleased with her form on Saturday, Hosking is also a cash-strapped women's pro cyclist and she rued not making the top step of the podium.
"Now we have to split 2500 Euros of prize money instead of 8000 - in women's cycling, that's very important," she said.
