The Austral Wheel Race is the oldest track cycling race in the world and is still taking place today. The first event took place in 1887. The race has since been organized by the Cycling Victoria Association and takes place in Melbourne over three days. The drivers have to qualify for the final over a series of runs and are given handicaps according to their level of performance . The final is over 2000 meters.
In 2014 the race was held for the 116th time. For the first time in long history, a Japanese cyclist, Minori Shimmura , won national runners-up in two-man team driving that same year.
The first Austral Wheel Race took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1887 and went over three miles (4,800 meters). The first prize was a grand piano worth £ 200 . Up to and including 1892 the race was carried out on high wheels . Other places where the race took place in the years that followed, the Exhibition track , the Circuit of North Essendon and cycling tracks of the Olympic Park and from Brunswick , Coburg and Northcote and Vodafone Arena .
The formerly best-known Australian bicycle brand Malvern Star has its roots in the Austral Wheel Race : In December 1898, bicycle mechanic and racing cyclist Tom Finnigan won the race and bought a bicycle shop with his prize money of 240 sovereigns , which later became the Malvern Star company . In the 1901 race, the winner from the USA was not paid the prize money because there was a suspicion of being postponed.
As of 2000, the prize has been $ 18,000 . The race is now organized as a three-day event, with competitions in various disciplines as well as races for women and juniors.
