Edmondson wins Aust Open criterium

Rising cycling star Alex Edmondson has claimed the Australian Open criterium title in a dramatic photo finish.

Germany's Michael Schweizer threw his arms in the air after crossing the line in Noosa on Saturday in the mistaken belief he had won, only for the judges to examine the photo and declare that Edmondson had got home first by a matter of centimetres.

"I was a little bit confident but when someone puts up a big salute like that all of a sudden you think that maybe you didn't get it," said 21-year-old Edmondson, a dual world champion in 2014.

"Thank god for the photo finish.

"To come away with the win - I'm absolutely speechless."

Next year is shaping as a huge one for Edmondson, who has been promoted to World Tour ranks with Orica-GreenEDGE.

The Rio Olympics also loom large for the versatile South Australian, whose European summer season was ended prematurely by knee surgery.

He paid tribute to the key role played by fellow GreenEDGE rider Michael Hepburn in Saturday's victory.

"I came here wanting to go well but to come away with a win is very special," said Edmondson.

"But I just wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammate Michael Hepburn.

"We only had the two of us and he rode pretty much all of the race on the front.

"It it wasn't for him there definitely wasn't any chance of me winning."

Australian Drapac rider Bernard Sulzberger was third.

Fellow Australian Georgia Baker claimed a narrow victory in the women's Australian Open criterium.

Representing the High5 Dream Team, Baker won in a sprint finish ahead of countrywomen Sarah Roy and Kristina Clonan.

"It was a really tough race out there," said Baker, a three-time world junior champion.

"My High5 team always work well together and cover all the moves."