Geelong, Australia - Rory Sutherland of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis earned third place overall in the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic in Geelong, Australia. Sutherland, sporting Health Net Presented by Maxxis kit for the first time, returned to racing after a long layoff to also score a third place in the sprint for Stage 3, behind stage winner and three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto), and Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole), who took the overall series title.

"Apparently I've turned into a sprinter during my year off, go figure!" he quipped after Stage 3. "I was pretty disappointed (not to get the win). I mean if I can't beat Robbie, then I may as well hang it all up."

Thought Sutherland admitted that the first two days of hard racing at the Jayco series were a bit of a shock to the system, he still succeeded in finishing 4th in each of the opening two stages.

Sutherland will continue his comeback during the Australian National Championships next week. He'll participate in both the Individual Time Trial and the Road Race, along with teammates Nathan O'Neill and Karl Menzies,