AARON Kemps was a surprise winner of the criterium champions jersey at the Scody Australian Open Road Championships last week.

Kemps, who represents Fly V Australia, will wear the jersey while competing in the US this year.

“I am very happy with this win and very thankful for Fly V, a new team for me this year, and very happy for the first race of the year and to get a win for them,” Kemps told cyclingnews.com.

 ”It is a team for Australians and I’m proud to be in an Australian team and now I am proud to take this jersey overseas and represent Australia.

“If it came down to a bunch kick then obviously Jonathan Cantwell and Ben Kersten were the key, but they said to try and be as aggressive as possible,” he added. “My legs felt good today. Bernie Sulzberger did a great job leading me out, I can’t thank him enough since he was last year’s Australian criterium champion.”

Kemps won the 44km event in Ballarat ahead of Dean Windsor and Adam Clarke.