Jayco-2XU's team of superstars topple Genesys on opening day

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Jayco-2XU's team of climbing specialists proved that the hype surrounding them was very much justified, posting a blistering 48:29.9 on the team time trial up Mt Wellington to take the stage, and the race lead.

Mark Jamieson led the team over the line, taking the race's first yellow jersey, with Josh Atkins, Dale Parker and Jai Crawford following as part of an elite top four. Jamieson and Crawford also head the Tasmanian rider classification, with the latter already tasting success after starting the race as an 11th hour call-up.

"This is an exciting victory for us and I’m sure that one of our boys can win the tour," he said. "I had been over the course twice before so I knew what to expect. It was a great opening stage for us."

Jayco-2XU team manager Pat Jonker praised the work of Jamieson, who the team offered a lifeline earleir in the season, when he was without a team, and lacking racing fitness.

"This was the sweetest of victories," said Jonker. "We were hoping for a top three finish, but realised the Russians and Genesys were very professional outfits who were [specifically] prepared for this type of race.

"I am especially pleased for 'Jamo' who earlier in the year would have been struggling to win a club race."

Next best were Genesys Wealth Advisers, who despite having ridden the Mt Wellington course several times in August as part of a course reconissaince, suffered without the services of Patrick Shaw. The NRS leaders will lament a slow start though they narrowed as the climb went on, eventually finishing 17 seconds down.

The Russian squad, who rode an impressive race at the recent Launceston - New Norfolk, were a further 13 seconds back in third place. Russian team coach Heiko Salzwedel was gracious in defeat.

"I was sceptical about starting a major tour with a team time trial up a mountain," he said. "But it was a fantastic stage, a really great advertisement for the Tour of Tasmania."

The big losers on the day were Plan B Racing and BikeBug.com who both conceded big time and will now be hard-pressed to mount any real bid for the race's general classification.

Tomorrow sees the race cover a difficult 140 kilometres over two tough stages. The first, a 61.4 km transition from New Norfolk to Hamilton features four climbs, before the peloton tackles the 78.6 kilometre burn to Bronte Park in the afternoon.