CASTLEMAINE rider Jade Maddern grabbed the biggest win of his career when he took out the John Woodman Memorial Cycle Classic in Albury on Sunday.
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After finishing a creditable sixth on debut last season, the 22-year-old underlined his improvement by winning in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 7 seconds.
He edged out Cootamundra's Jack Douglas and Tolland's Andrew Bradley.
Albury-Wodonga's Madeline Wright was the first female home in seventh position.
"I'm stoked," Maddern said.
"It's an awesome result.
"I love the race."
Maddern, who was riding off 15 minutes, went into the event in good form and will now target a two-day event near Hamilton later this month.
"I had a pretty bad summer but I've started to get into good form over the past month or so," he said.
"This would be my biggest win on the road."
Albury-Wodonga riders Paul Millynn and David Boonzaayer finished in the top-10 while Kathryn McInerney, Troy Gabriel and rising veteran Tommy Nixon weren't far off the pace.
Race favourite Neil Van Der Ploeg came home in 37th position.
Sixty-one competitors finished the 33rd annual event which was brought forward from July to give riders better conditions.
The race started at 10am at Wagga and weaved its way through Mangoplah, Cookardinia, Morven, Culcairn, Walla and Jindera before finishing at Lavington Hall in Urana Road at 1.15pm.
