Takaka road cyclist Jack Bauer won the prologue time trial at the prestigious Herald Sun Tour through central Melbourne, giving round one to the American Garmin-Sharp team in their duel with Orica-GreenEDGE, Australia's only world tour team.
It was a New Zealand one-two, with Cromwell's Tom Scully pipped by less than a second by Bauer in the twilight time trial.
The pre-race favourite Simon Gerrans finished 11th, but he's only five seconds off the pace going into the first full stage of the five-day tour.
Despite winning the time trial, Bauer doesn't expect to contend for the overall title.