Australia’s women’s cycling team GreenEDGE-AIS have continued their exceptional debut, scoring wins in Europe and New Zealand.

Dutch rider Loes Gunnewijk gave them a perfect start to their European campaign when she won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race in Belgium on Saturday.

On Sunday, Australian Shara Gillow finished second to American Evelyn Stevens by just one second in the Tour of New Zealand and Gillow’s NZ team-mate Linda Villumsen won the last stage.

Gunnewijk beat fellow Dutchwoman Ellen Van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) in a two-up sprint.

“It’s really special for me to take my first win and for us to win the first European race of the season,” Gunnewijk said.

“We have a really good spirit and work ethic in the team and everyone wants to work for the leader in any given race.”

GreenEDGE had a simple plan for the Belgian race, making sure Gunnewijk was protected for the finish.

Australian team-mates Amanda Spratt and Tiffany Cromwell joined Gunnewijk in a 12-rider break that formed on the third climb of the 119.4km race, just before halfway.

GreenEDGE were the only team to have three riders in the break and with about 20km left Gunnewijk launched a solo attack.

Van Dijk joined her about 5km later and the GreenEDGE rider was too strong at the finish.

Van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) had an outstanding race, earlier overcoming a lead of more than a minute to bridge the gap from the peloton to the lead group by herself.

The GreenEDGE men, by contrast, had a quiet European debut.

Lithuanian Thomas Vaitkus was their top-placed rider at the men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 56th place, more than five minutes behind Belgian winner Sep Vanmarcke.