Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic

Racing scene from 2007

The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is a one-day race for cyclists held in Australia , which is the longest on the UCI's racing calendar with a total length of around 300 kilometers .

The first race took place in 1895. This makes it the oldest on the Australian continent and one of the oldest in the world. Since the introduction of the UCI ProTour and the associated Continental Circuits in 2005, the race has been part of the UCI Oceania Tour's racing calendar and takes place every year in mid-October. It is classified in category 1.2. Since it was held in 2008, the race is no longer part of the UCI Oceania Tour.

The race traditionally starts in Melbourne and takes the drivers along the Princes Highway , part of National Highway 1 , to Warrnambool on the coast of the state of Victoria .

From 1895 to 1995, the race did not start with the usual mass start in Europe , but the drivers tackled the route individually, as they started from Melbourne at different time intervals. The race has only started with a mass start since 1996, for which up to 250 participants register each year. These are divided into categories A (professionals), B, C and D. In addition, there are premium sprints in the cities to be crossed and points for the mountain classification are awarded on the total of six climbs.

The length and route of the route varies from year to year. By 2003, the drivers had to cover 265 kilometers. In the two following years 299.1 kilometers and in 2006 even 300.3 kilometers.

history

Origin and first staging of the race

In 1895, Don Charlston had the idea to run a race on the Melbourne – Warrnambool route after he had cycled the route himself in order to reach a ship home in the harbor of Warrnambool in time, which he did because of the rough seas ultimately failed.

Ten weeks later, on October 5, 1895, the first event took place, won by A. Calder, who started with a handicap of two hours. It took him 11 hours and 44 minutes for the 165 miles (approx. 265.5 kilometers). Despite a puncture near Geelong that cost him about 20 minutes, he crossed the finish line 31 minutes ahead of the runner-up. Jim Carpenter set the fastest time of all participants with 10 hours and 52 minutes, but only finished fourth.

A total of 50 drivers registered for the race. In the end, only 24 drivers started, of which 7 made it to the finish. The drivers were divided into three classes. The first class started at three in the morning, the next one hour later, and the last one more. By finding a sponsor for the race, it was named Scott-Morton Road Race and there were four prizes for the drivers. The winner won a bicycle and the respective class winners a watch, a punch punch or a tea and coffee service.

Records

The record winners of the race are the Australians David Allan and Peter Besanko with a total of three victories.

Four-time Olympic medalist Dean Woods holds the record for the fastest time on the old 165-mile course . In 1990 he covered the distance in 5 hours and 12 minutes.