Earlier today Team GreenEdge's Luke Durbridge powered to victory in the prologue of the 2012 Criterium du Dauphine Libere in Grenoble, France. Durbridge won the prologue just one second ahead of Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins and Andriy Grivko of Team Astana.

"I'm really, really happy," a thrilled Durbridge commented after the last rider had completed the prologue and added "This is the most important win of my career. It's been really great. The [team] helped me to develop to a place where I could take this win today."

The nearly flat 5.7 kilometer prologue course in Grenoble featured a minimal number of corners or other technical aspects which would have been tricky obstacles for the powerful time trial specialists. Durbridge covered the out-and-back in 00:06:38.

"I had ridden the course beforehand, and I knew the few corners well," Durbridge added and continued "I worked really hard during the week with my coach Simon Jones. We focused specifically on the start and gauging my effort. I normally go super hard from the start line, like a trackster, but today I brought it back a little at the start. The tactic paid dividends for me in the long run. I had good legs all the way to the finish."

An early starter, Durbridge spent more than half the race in the virtual 'hot seat' as he waited for the other stage favorites to cross the line.

"I didn't worry about the riders that were to come too much," Durbridge claims. "I was just chilling out as I waited. I went to the car for to get my recovery drink. I put on warm clothes, sat around and waited some more. Finally, I went back to the bus with everyone, and we all watched the last couple of riders finish."

"There were about ten of us together [in the bus], and when Wiggins was out on the course, we worked out the time he would need to have to come through the final corner to unseat me," continued Durbridge. "He came through at the time we had identified, so we knew it would be close. When he crossed the line one second down, the bus erupted. It was a really special moment."

Durbridge is being realistic about the yellow jersey he earned today and knows he might have to let it go again tomorrow in the expected sprint finish of the stage. Durbridge, however, does have his eyes on another objective this week.

"There's a mid-week individual time trial. I want to go well there, too."