Wiggins, the three-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion on the track, led Sutton by five seconds heading into today's final stage, a 15-lap criterium around Melbourne's Lygon Street.

 

It was the first time he had won a stage race in his professional career.

 

With three-second bonuses for the winner of intermediate sprints at the five and 10-lap marks and a 10-second bonus at the finish, Sutton, a quality sprinter, could have made up the gap.

 

But, after senior team member Wiggins helped Sutton to three stage wins earlier in the week, then powered to the overall lead in yesterday's time trial, the team decision was to let the British rider take the victory.

 

That choice helped Australia's Jonathan Cantwell, of team Fly V, claim the final stage, as neither sprint rival Sutton nor endurance specialist Wiggins made an attempt to beat him to the line.

 

Cantwell finished with the sprinter's green jersey and also took third place overall, with Sutton coming second overall.

 

Sutton had been hoping to follow his father Gary, the 1984 tour winner, in becoming the first father-son combination to win the event.

 

But he said he had no problem agreeing to team boss Matthew White's decision to ride for Wiggins.

 

Sutton said: "It would probably look a bit funny actually if Bradley's in yellow, leading me out and I win the stage and roll him for GC (general classification) as well.

 

"Bradley had the yellow ... today was his day."

 

He said he regarded Wiggins like a "big brother" but would be back in future years to try to win himself.

 

Wiggins, who showed his class on the road by placing fourth in this year's Tour de France, paid tribute to Sutton, the nephew of British track cycling coach Shane.

 

He said: "Chris could have won the stage and won the GC.

 

"We had to make a decision and fortunately for me Chris did the honourable thing and let me have it."

 

Wiggins said his victory was also partially a win for Australia.

 

He said: "My father was Australian, so I'm half-Australian I guess ... to be here now as a winner myself is great."

 

 

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