Cycling: Myer holds on to win Tour Down Under

Cameron Meyer of Team Garmin-Cervelo. Photo / Getty Images

West Australian Cameron Meyer achieved a major milestone in his young cycling career, winning the Tour Down Under on Sunday.

The 23-year old, named Australian cyclist of the year last December, held off a strong challenge from pre-race favourite Matt Goss.

Meyer beat Goss by just two seconds after stage six in Adelaide, equalling the closest finish in the Tour's 13-year history.

Goss picked up a total of six seconds in bonus time during the stage, a 90 kilometre street race, but it was not enough to overhaul Meyer.

British rider Ben Swift won the stage and Goss finished third.

Swift finished third overall, eight seconds down.

Goss picked up two seconds in the first intermediate sprint and then four seconds because he was third across the line.

The tour has become very much a sprinter's race, making Meyer's overall win even more impressive.

He took the lead with his stunning stage four win and then superb teamwork from Garmin-Cervelo enabled him to keep his lead to the end.

The race was Lance Armstrong's final professional ride outside the United States, the American finishing outside the top 50.

Cancer survivor Armstrong, the winner of a record seven Tour de France titles, announced last October that the Tour Down Under would be his final international race.

- AAP