It took four time Olympic medallist Brad McGee three attempts to put an end to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
Robbie McEwen?s strangle hold on the Surfers Paradise Grand Prix Cycling event. After finishing out of the top ten in last week?s event at South Bank McGee pounced in the final stages of today?s event, electing not to leave it up to a sprint finish to win by 100m from McEwen and Allan Davis.

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The final event of the Grand Prix Cycling Series being promoted by USM Events and staged in the heart of Surfers Paradise has earned the new tag of ?Two Wheel Indy? and has proven a winner with cyclists and spectators as the people of Surfers Paradise embraced the event. A sensational crowd turned out to witness some of
Australia?s best cyclists.

On the start line was a full field of fifty riders including a huge contingent of world class cyclists. Local hero McEwen, two time winner of the green sprint jersey and his main rival 2002 green jersey winner Baden Cooke, Athens Olympic gold medallist Brad McGee, winner of last weekend?s event Allan Davis and Matt White, now riding with Stuart O?Grady in the Cofidis colors.

As the gun fired so did the riders, they were out of their seats and pushing hard into the first corner.
The course was 950m long and the riders rode for 60 minutes + plus 3 laps on the exceptionally tight and technical course in and around Surfers Paradise. As they began to sort themselves out and settling into a steady pace the temperature was anything but low as the thermometer hit the mid 30?s and the humidity skyrocketing.

In the early stages there were numerous attacks but all were eventually neutralized by the chase group. But at the half way
mark it was
Robina?s Austin
Jayson and Scott Davis who stepped up the pace to forge the first serious break. The pair worked well together before the workhorse Matt White joined them.

This trio stirred up the chase group but soon faded as Davis and Poad made their move to the front and this pair made a concerted effort to establish the break.

McEwen was first to make the jump across into the lead group with his new team mate Henk Vogels making sure he was there to back his man up. McGee sensed the danger and joined them with Jonathan Cantwell and Poad now making up the leaders. The group worked well, edging away from the main bunch.

As the tempo increased the field was reduced as the pace and heat took their toll. This also included Vogels who had done his job for McEwen and returned to the chase group.

Meanwhile the chasers contained the big names that could still get them back to the breakaway trio. Cadel Evans, Baden Cooke, White, 2003 South Bank Grand Prix winner Mark Roland, Nick Gates and Matt Wilson but it would have to be done soon with just 20mins left