American Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders) outsprinted Australia's Emma Rickards (Cervelo Lifeforce) to claim victory in the opening round of the UCI Women's Road Cycling World Cup series Sunday in Geelong, Australia.

The pace was high from the gun with 12 riders breaking away early. But Team High Road powered the chase on the front of the peloton and the break were reeled in on the fourth lap. Cervelo Lifeforce riders then launched a series of attacks with Rickards finally breaking clear followed close behind by Mattis.

The pair built their lead to more than six minutes before holding off the peloton, led home by Germany's Ina Teutenberg, by one minute and eight seconds at the finish line.

"It's unbelievable, it was a spectacular day," said Mattis, who now leads the World Cup series. "The spectators were awesome and the course was really hard and my team raced great."

Eighty-five riders began the 120km event, raced over eight laps of an out-and-back circuit from the Geelong waterfront.

With 1km left and holding a lead of more than two minutes, Mattis and Rickards engaged in a series of stalling tactics with neither wanting to take the lead.

Two hundred meters from home Mattis launched the sprint and Rickards couldn't match it, giving the 33-year-old American the biggest win of her career.

"With about a kilometer to go, it became a cat-and-mouse game, and I am not known as a sprinter but I unleashed my inner sprinter, I guess," Mattis said.

Rickards was disappointed to miss the win, but nonetheless happy to make the podium.

"I have some mixed emotions because when you go so close, of course you want to be in that jersey, but to finish second in a World Cup is just amazing," said the 24-year-old Victorian. "I felt confident that I could finish off with a good sprint, but it wasn't quite to be.

“But for a World Cup and one in my own country I am ecstatic that I am on the podium, it's the best result for me ever."

Teutenberg, who sprinted home for third at the head of the main peloton, lamented a missed opportunity and said she was disappointed by the lack of assistance given to her and her High Road teammates during the chase.

"We did everything we could, the girls were falling off the bike at the end of the race, so you couldn't ask for more, but maybe we miscalculated and should have gone a little bit earlier," Teutenberg said.

The next World Cup round will be held in Italy on March 24.