Press Release
SBS Documentary
National Road Teams Melbourne To Warrnambool at 12:00pm, Sunday 1st November, 2009
Cycling from Australia. (Sport)
Find out more at http://www.sbs.com.au/television
MITCHELL BUILDING SUPPLIES
MELBOURNE TO WARRNAMBOOL CYCLING CLASSIC 2009
TOP TEN
1. PEARSON, Joel
Rider Number: 25
Team: Savings & Loan
State: New South Wales
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.25.00
2. FURMSTON, Daniel
Rider Number: 195
Team: Praties
State: Tasmania
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.25.00
3. DECKER, Timothy
Rider Number: 43
Team: Titans Race #2
State: Victoria
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.25.00
4. PILSON, Steven
Rider Number: 125
Team: City Memorial Bowls Club
State: Victoria
Grade: B
Time: 6.28.25.00
5. STEVENSON, Trent
Rider Number: 53
Team: The Bike Shop Colac
State: Victoria
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.25.00
6. LEAPER, Tom
Rider Number: 110
Team: Mitchell Building Supplies
State: Victoria
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.25.00
7. MURCHIE, Adam
Rider Number: 5
Team: Drapac Porsche
State: Victoria
Grade: B
Time: 6.28.25.00
8. KAH, Danny
Rider Number: 79
Team: Cycling - Inform
State: Victoria
Grade: B
Time: 6.28.25.00
9. BAINES, Ashely
Rider Number: 52
Team: The Bike Shop Colac
State: Victoria
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.32.00
10. DICKESON, William
Rider Number: 26
Team: Savings & Loan
State: Victoria
Grade: A
Time: 6.28.39.00
Complete Official Race Results from the event are available:
DOWNLOAD : Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic Results 2009 (FORMAT: PDF) - Courtesy of Matthew Wright.
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
PRESS RELEASE
MITCHELL SUPPLIES BACKS WARRNAMBOOL CLASSIC
Mitchell Building Supplies is the new major sponsor of the Melbourne to Warrnambool cycling classic.
The company’s managing director Frank Agosta is a former cyclist and long-time supporter of Victorian track and road events.
He won the Camperdown Open in the late 1950s.
Mitchell Building Supplies is a family company, based in Burnley, and specialises in timber and concrete products.
“To have our company associated with the Melbourne to Warrnambool classic gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction,” Mr. Agosta said.
“The ‘Warrnambool’ is an Australian sports institution and warrants recognition as one of the world’s great bike races.”
Warrnambool Citizens’ Road Race Committee president Brendan Gleeson welcomed Mitchell Building Supplies’ involvement in the classic.
“This company is a traditional supporter of cycling and its backing of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic is a substantial boost for the race,” he said.
“We have a wide range of excellent sponsors involved in the race this year.”
Mitchell Building Supplies joins SEW Eurodrive, Warrnambool City Council, Tourism Victoria, Radio 3YB, the City Memorial Bowls Club and Wyndham City Council as principal sponsors of the event.
The 261km Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, first held in 1895, will be conducted on Saturday, October 24, starting from Werribee racecourse at 7.30a.m.
It will be followed on Sunday, October 25, by the inaugural Shipwreck Coast Classic, which will double as the Victorian open road championships for men and women.
Both events will conclude at Cheeseworld.
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
Brendan Gleeson : President - Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic Committee
Mob: 0417 566 282
PRESS RELEASE
TRAFFIC TAKES THE “WARRNAMBOOL” DOWN NEW TRACK
The iconic Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic – the world’s second oldest bike race – will undergo major evolutionary change this year, with an overhaul of its current course and the introduction of a support event to create a two-day cycle racing extravaganza.
It is planned to start the event, first held in 1895, at Werribee, 40kms south-west of Melbourne.
The proposed change follows a meeting in Melbourne yesterday with classic director, John Craven, and senior representatives from the Victoria Police, Vic Roads and Cycling Australia’s technical panel.
The meeting addressed Police concerns about the relative safety of rolling road closures, the system under which the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic and other events like the Herald Sun Tour operate.
The course alteration will chop about 35kms from the current route. The “Warrnambool” will no longer be the world’s longest one-day bike race – a distinction it has held for the past five years.
Craven, the classic’s director for 14 years, said the changes were inevitable.
He said police had expressed significant safety concerns about four sections of the current 300km course – the built-up segment from the Sanctuary Lakes starting point to Point Cook, the busy main streets of Werribee and Lara, and the narrow route through the Stony Rises on the Princes Highway.
Craven said the new proposed course, which is subject to Police, VicRoads and municipal council approval, would measure about 265kms.
He said these were substantial positives in the changed route, aside from safety issues.
The new course is likely to start at Werribee Racecourse, travel to Little River before swinging north to the You Yangs, avoiding Lara’s bustling Saturday morning traffic.
It will pick up the current route near Elcho Park and eventually proceed down the Hamilton Highway through Inverleigh and Cressy, before continuing on to Lismore where the race will go in a southerly direction to Chocolyn and Camperdown.
Craven said the classic would then take on an innovative and exciting challenge – passing through Camperdown on the Bullen-Merri Road – displaying all the visual splendor of the Lakes and Craters tourism region.
The final 62 kilometres of the course will be raced on the Princes Highway, concluding at the traditional Raglan Parade finish line.
Craven said these were precedents for introducing necessary safety components into some of the world’s most famous bike races.
The legendary Paris-Roubaix classic, won by Australia’s Stuart O’Grady in 2007, now starts at Compiegne, about 60kms north of Paris.
The Paris-Brussels Classic also starts 85kms out of Paris in Soissons, to avoid traffic conflicts.
Craven said the course upgrade was part of a grand concept to implement a cycle racing extravaganza into the Warrnambool and Corangamite regions over the weekend of October 24-25.
He said a new bike race would be held on Sunday, October 25 – the 115km Shipwreck Coast Classic.
This event would be open to all professionals and club-registered cyclists, and also to masters’ riders.
The race has been sanctioned by the Australian Cycling Federation and will be listed on the national road series calendar.
It is likely to start in Warrnambool and proceed through Allansford, Nullawarre, Bay of Islands, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Curdievale, Nullawarre, before finishing at Allansford.
Warrnambool Citizens’ Road Race Committee president Brendan Gleeson said the changes and innovations were monumental, but were essential for the long-term future of the classic and the promotion of the Warrnambool-Corangamite region as a vibrant tourism destination.
“We now have a top-level two-day cycling feast,” he said.
“To me, the best feature of the changes to the ‘Warrnambool’ course is that the race will now take in the spectacular countryside through the lakes and craters area at the back of Camperdown.
“The riders will wonder what hit them, but the race is now a genuine European-style classic, with a huge challenge at the 200km mark.
“The police have made a point and we are hearing it – we are protecting the classic and creating a viable future.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
Brendan Gleeson : President - Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic Committee
Mob: 0417 566 282
Shotz Sports Nutrition Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic Results
Go to ‘Classic Results’ in the main menu to see all Race Results.
FINAL RESULTS - TOP TEN
1. DEMPSTER, Zak
TEAM: VIS / Jayco - Toyota United
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15
2. CLARKE, Hilton
TEAM: VIS / Jayco - Toyota United
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15 ~
3. PELL, David
TEAM: Savings & Loans
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15 ~
4. JENNINGS, Cameron
TEAM: Budget Forklifts
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15 ~
5. NEWELL, Dylan
TEAM: Praties
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15 ~
6. MUNRO, Casey
TEAM: Radio Coast FM
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:18:15 ~
7. CLARKE, Jonathan
TEAM: VIS / Jayco - Toyota United
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:19:29 ~
8. LEAPER, Tom
TEAM: Brightstar/Bicycle Superstore
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:19:29 ~
9. HUGHES, Cameron
TEAM: Budget Forklifts
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:19:29 ~
10. DICKESON, Will
TEAM: Savings & Loans
GRADE: A GRADE
TIME: 07:19:32 ~
TEAMS CLASSIFICATION - TOP TEN
1. VIS / Jayco - Toyota United
TIME: 21:55:59
2. Budget Forklifts
TIME: 22:05:12
3. Praties
TIME: 22:05:20
4. Savings & Loans
TIME: 22:09:56
5. Brightstar/Bicycle Superstore
TIME: 22:12:39
6. Radio Coast FM
TIME: 22:13:11
7. Virgin Blue
TIME: 22:19:16
8. Carnegie Caulfield CC Elite
TIME: 22:21:17
9. Warrnambool Standard
TIME: 22:25:38
10. SRT Titans
TIME: 22:27:02
A Classic Winner
October 27, 2008
Article Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard
Zak was able to withstand attacks from David Pell and Cameron Jennings to be in contention at the business end of the race as the leaders had been whittled down to six.
“I lined up last (in the sprint) and hit them with everything I had.”
One of the first to embrace Zak was his coach Tim Decker, the 2007 Melbourne to Warrnambool winner. He also coaches Darren.
Zak’s Italian experience followed outstanding 2007 domestic results, including victories in the Tour of Tasmania and Victorian Open Time Trial Championship.
Los Angeles-based Clarke said he tried to control the race and received good support from his younger brother Jonathan.
“It was just the last 50 metres we came up a bit short,” he said.
“What can I say about these 21-year-olds who keep beating me. I’m starting to feel like an old bloke.”
Savings and Loans team member Joel Pearson picked up the sprint and king of the mountain.
The first south-west rider to finish was Luke Aggett, of Port Fairy.
The first woman home was Nicole Whitburn, of Frankston.
‘Classic Women’
The Shotz Sports Nutrition Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic for 2008
provided near perfect racing conditions for the 203 competitors.
This years event saw 151 riders complete the grueling 299km road race
with two women as part of the field. Nicole Whitburn, Team: Carnegie
Caulfield CC Elite (Victoria), finished 111th place, whilst Turi Berg,
Team: Hawthorn Citizen’s Youth Club (Victoria),
finished in 148th place in a time of 09:06:39.
Nicole Whitburn, is the fastest woman ever to have completed the 299km
race in a record time of 07:48:25.
HOUSE DECLARES: “I WANT THE WARRNAMBOOL”
October 21, 2008
The nomadic Englishman Kristian House will have his fourth crack at winning the Shotz Sports Nutrition Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic on Saturday and is eager to prove he can conquer the world’s longest one-day bike race.
House, 29, a former member of Great Britain’s Olympic track endurance squad, and with more than 30 road race victories on the international pro circuit, is frustrated by his lack of success in the 299km ‘Warrnambool.’
He finished ‘down the track’ at his initial attempt in 2005, was an honorable 12th the following year, and in 2007 was forced to surrender at the 140km mark with a broken wheel.
‘The Melbourne to Warrnambool is the race I want to win,’ House declared.
‘The classic is well-known all around the world. I often get asked about it in England. It has a great reputation.’
Founded in 1895, the ‘Warrnambool’ is the world’s second oldest bike race and will start at 7.30 a.m. at Sanctuary Lakes Resort in the Wyndham City municipality.
It has attracted a monstrous field of 204 riders, far surpassing the previous massed start record of 156 when the classic changed from a handicap format in 1996.
House was a member of England’s Rapha Condor team this year and won five races in the United States, France, Germany and England.
‘It’s been a pretty good year for me, he said. At a guess, I’ve done about 90 races, so I don’t need to do much more training for the Warrnambool.’
House’s best season was in 2006 when his victories included the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Tasmania.
He returned to Australia for the Caterpillar Underground Mining Tour of Tasmania earlier this month and wore the leader’s yellow jersey for four stages before an unforgiving Category One climb at scenic Gunns Plains thwarted him.
His victory plan for the Melbourne to Warrnambool is simple; try to establish at least a 30-second break on the tiring leading bunch about four kilometres from the finish and hang on.
‘I am not relishing the final climb up Raglan Parade,’ he said.
‘I’ve got to be on my own as the finish line approaches; I doubt that I could win in a bunch sprint.’
House, who will ride for the strong Budget Forklifts line-up, will face an army of challengers from competitors representing 35 teams.
Bendigo’s Tim Decker, winner of the 2007 classic at his 14th attempt, will aim to become only the fourth rider to twice win the race.
Reigning Victorian open road champion David Pell, also from Bendigo, is in career-best form, having also won the prestigious Grafton to Inverell event last month. He will have strong support from his Savings and Loans team.
There are two women in the field, Frankston’s Nicole Whitburn, and Davina Summers, from W.A.
Whitburn, 30, a design engineer who won the 2007 Victorian open criterium championship, said it was ‘a bit of a dream’ to finish the race.
All riders who complete the course will receive an ornamental medallion from Warrnambool City Council.
Other special awards include the SEW-Eurodrive sprint championship, the Action Fitness Centre King of the Mountains title, and the Wyndham City Council Victorian 200km championship which is decided at Pirron Yallock.
There are 30 sprints and hill climbs along the route.
Sprints will be at Sanctuary Lakes, Point Cook, Werribee, Little River, Lara, Moorabool, Bell Post Hill, Batesford, Stonehaven, Murgheboluc, Inverleigh, Hesse, Cressy, Lake Corangamite, Beeac, Alvie, Pirron Yallock (200km championship), Pomborneit North, Camperdown, Boorcan, Terang, Garvoc, Panmure and Allansford.
Hill Climbs are at Elcho Park, Dog Rocks, Murgheboluc, Inverleigh, Alvie and Camperdown.
Total prizemoney is $17,000, plus trophies.
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
Ron Smith : Media Communications and Public Relations - LinksLiving
Ph: 03 9818 5700
Mob: 0417 329 201
ronsmith@medialaunch.com.au
RECORD FIELD IN “WARRNAMBOOL”
October 16, 2008
A record field of 197 riders will contest the Shotz Sports Nutrition Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic on Saturday, October 25.
The field size surpasses the previous best massed start total of 156 when the classic changed from a handicap format in 1996.
Race director John Craven said today the Warrnambool Citizens Road Race Committee was overwhelmed by the entry.
It’s an amazing result,’ he said.
Craven said the introduction of a teams format for the 2008 classic was a major contributing factor to the escalated field size.
‘Obviously, itâ’s what the riders want,’ he said.
‘There are a staggering 35 teams in the race.’
Bendigo’s Tim Decker, winner of the 2007 classic at his 14th attempt, will wear the No 1 saddlecloth this year.
Decker will face an uphill battle to regain his title from a talented line-up of rivals.
West Australian Benjamin King, runner-up to Decker last year, and reigning Victorian open road champion David Pell second placegetter in the 2007 ‘Warrnambool,’ will again seek overall glory.
Englishmen Kristian House and Tom Southam, and recent Tour of Tasmania winner Richie Porte are also top contenders for victory.
The ‘Warrnambool’ will start at 7.30 a.m. at Sanctuary Lakes Resort and is expected to finish around 3 p.m. in Warrnambool’s Raglan Parade.
The 299 km classic is the world’s longest one-day bike race, and is also the world’s second oldest cycling event, founded in 1895.
Total prizemoney is $17,000, plus trophies.
There are 30 intermediate sprints and hill climbs along the route.
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
Ron Smith : Media Communications and Public Relations - LinksLiving
Ph: 03 9818 5700
Mob: 0417 329 201
ronsmith@medialaunch.com.au
CLASSIC FIRES NEW SHOTZ
October 15, 2008
Shotz Sports Nutrition is the new major sponsor of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
The 300km classic, the world’s longest one-day bike race, will be held on Saturday, October 25, starting at Sanctuary Lakes Resort at 7.30am.
The event, also the world’s second oldest cycling race, founded in 1895, is expected to attract a top-flight field of about 140 riders from all Australian states and overseas.
It will be conducted as a teams race for the first time.
Shotz Sports Nutrition’s managing director Darryl Griffiths said his company was excited to be associated with such a legendary event as the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic.
‘This race is one of the icons of Australian cycling,’ Mr Griffiths said.
‘The endurance type aspect of the classic is tailor-made for the Shotz range of high energy portable products.’
Shot’z front-line products are an energy gel, an electrolyte tablet and an energy bar.
‘Our products are specifically designed to keep pace with the body’s fuel needs and to satisfy hunger,’ Mr Griffiths said.
‘From sporting teams at the highest international level to the weekend warrior, Shotz is finding its way across a diverse range of activities and markets.’
Melbourne to Warrnambool director John Craven said the classic’s committee was honored to have Shotz aboard as the major sponsor.
‘Shotz has an impeccable reputation in the sports nutrition field and is a most welcome addition to the classic’s line-up of excellent sponsors,’ he said.
SEW Eurodrive, the tour’s major sponsor in 2007, has naming rights to the race’s sprint championship this year.
Wyndham City Council will again sponsor the Victorian 200km championship and Action Fitness Centre has naming rights to the king of the mountains championship.
The Sanctuary Lakes Resort will host the race start for the second time and CycleSport Victoria is again supporting the event through grade sponsorship.
The Gallery Bar and Dance Club and The Regal Warrnambool are the classic’s function sponsors.
Craven said all connected with the classic were indebted to the event’s two media sponsors Radio 3YB and the Warrnambool Standard for their superb coverage.
He said a further 100 companies and individuals had become members of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Society, a coterie-style group which generates funding for the classic.
The society’s annual prize draw will be held at The Regal on Friday evening.
FURTHER INFORMATION
John Craven : Race Director - Caribou Publications
Ph: 03 5224 2466
Mob: 0408 558 469
Madeleine Brialey : Event Coordinator - Caribou Publications
Mob: 0421 352 014
madeleine@caribou.net.au
Darryl Griffiths : Managing Director - Shotz Sports Nutrition
Mob: 0417 973 476
TOUR OF THE SHIPWRECK COAST RECREATIONAL RIDE 2008
Event Day : October 26, 2008
Four great rides to choose from!
* Take it easy, see the sites and stop in for lunch at the renowned Allansford Cheeseworld.
* If you hadn’t heard of Peterborough or Childer’s Cove before,after these rides you won’t forget them!
* Up for a real challenge!! - ride to heaven and back and see the apostles.
* Be in Warrnambool on Saturday, October 25 and see the finish of Australia’s premier one-day bikerace - Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic!
Ride Information:
Click Here to download Information about the ride. (Format: PDF)
For further information please contact: Caribou Publications
www.caribou.net.au
October 29, 2007
Title: THE SWEETEST VICTORY OF ALL
Article by PETER FLETCHER
Article Courtesy of The Standard
SPORT doesn’t always deliver athletes what they deserve. On Saturday afternoon on Raglan Parade cyclist Tim Decker earned the prize he so richly deserved - victory in the Sew-Eurodrive Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
At his 14th start in the world’s longest one-day road race, Decker’s perseverance was finally rewarded when he found a way to outsprint young Western Australian rider Benjamin King and Mark Hooper, of Geelong.
The emotional 34-year-old Bendigo rider slumped onto the roadside after crossing the finish line and revealed he had been cramping for the last 80 kilometres of the 299km marathon.
“I can’t believe it,'’ Decker said. “All I can say is dreams do come true.
“This guy (Doug Issell) told me when I was 17 I could win this race and I’ve finally done it.'’
Decker had been close many times in the Classic since he first rode as a 19-year-old, with finishes of second (2000), third (1999), fourth (2005), sixth (2006) and seventh (2003).
His runner-up result to Hilton Clarke jnr came in a controversial finish and he protested unsuccessfully against the winner.
“If I had won six years ago today wouldn’t have been so sweet,'’ Decker mused.
“No one was taking it away from me today.
“This fulfils a lifetime dream for me, it is a race that holds a majestic place in my heart.'’
Decker was involved in the key mid-race breaks and although he was forced to spend large periods at the back of the leading group of nine riders, massaging movement back into his thighs, found a way to respond to every attack in the latter stages of the race.
Queenslander Cameron Hughes was able to break away approaching Bell Street and looked the winner for the approach to the finish from Flaxman Street.
He was caught in the final 100 metres by Decker, King, Hooper and Richard England, of Blackburn.
King, a 19-year-old law student contesting his first Melbourne to Warrnambool, thought he was the winner 50 metres from the line.
But Decker burst through to score by a bike length.
His winning time of seven hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds was the fastest since the Classic became a mass start in 1996, underlining warm but benign conditions.
Decker was modest in his acceptance speech, telling supporters and spectators he hoped he didn’t have to say too many words.
“I hope my ride today showed you what sort of person I am.'’
He acknowledged the support of his wife Michelle, who was at the finish with their six-month-old son Cohen. “She has sacrificed a lot for me,'’ Decker said.
“I hope today shows her how much I love her.
“The pinnacles of my life are marrying my wife and the birth of my child. But as far as cycling goes, this is it,'’ he said.
Decker’s previous biggest Australian win was the 1996 Bendigo Madison when he partnered Chris White to victory.
Last week he won two World Masters Games titles in Sydney but those results paled into insignificance after Saturday’s win.
Hooper, 27, was ecstatic with his podium finish, saying he would have been rapt with a top 10 result in his fourth Melbourne to Warrnambool start.
The Standard is a support sponsor of the Classic.
October 28, 2007
VETERAN Bendigo rider Tim Decker realised a dream when he won the Melbourne to Warrnambool classic in a tight finish yesterday.
After falling heartbreakingly close in the 299-kilometre race in recent years, including a number of top-five finishes, the 34-year-old finally secured top spot on the dais, edging out eight other riders in a sprint to the line.
It was Decker’s 14th attempt at the world’s longest one-day bike race, and he described the win as a dream come true when he led the field home in front of about 5000 spectators along Warrnambool’s Raglan Parade.
“I’m not the best rider in the world but I’ve stuck with it. This is my pinnacle something I’ve wanted for so long,” Decker said.
“I had number 14 today, we had room 14 (at the hotel) last night and it was 14 times I’d ridden it.”
In a race full of attacks and breakaways, nine riders eventually rode clear of the field and were more than 10 minutes ahead at the finish.
Despite the mercury reaching 30 degrees and resulting in a high attrition rate among the 157 starters, Decker’s winning time of seven hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds was the fastest since the race was extended to 299 kilometres in 2004.
Former world champion triathlete Emma Carney was involved in a crash near Werribee and withdrew.
SEW-EURODRIVE TO SPONSOR WARRNAMBOOL CLASSIC 2007
Press Release
Click Here to download Press Release (Format: PDF)
Power transmission company SEW-Eurdodrive is the new major sponsor of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
SEW-Eurodrive is a prominent supporter of Australian sport, with heavy involvement in harness racing, V8 supercars, Australian rules and rugby league.
The 300km Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, founded in 1895, is the worlds longest one-day bike race and second-oldest cycling classic.
The 2007 classic will be held on October 27 and will start at Sanctuary Lakes in the City of Wyndham.
Lyndsay Hill, president of the Warrnambool Citizens Road Race Committee, today welcomed SEW-Eurodrive’s major sponsorship.
‘It is a tremendous boost to have such a well-respected company as SEW-Eurodrive joining forces with the classic,’ Mr. Hill said.
‘Sew-Eurodrive has a proud record of supporting a wide range of sporting events and the committee looks forward to a long and productive association with this company.’
SEW-Eurodrive’s managing director Robert Merola described the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic as an Australian sports institution.
‘SEW-Eurodrive is delighted to be associated with such a prestigious and long-established event,’ he said.
‘It is a supreme challenge for the competitors just to finish the classic. It is one of my favorite Australian events.’
The 2007 classic is expected to be contested by a top-flight field of around 200 cyclists from all Australian states and overseas.
The Victorian 200km championship, conducted in conjunction with the classic, will be sponsored by the City of Wyndham.
The classic will become a two-day festival of cycling, with the Tour of the Great Ocean Road Recreational Ride to be held on Sunday, October 28.
Participants will have a choice of three events:
- Warrnambool to Port Campbell: 71km
- Warrnambool to Lavers Hill: 120km
- Warrnambool to Apollo Bay: 168km
Full details of the ride are available via Caribou Publications Pty Ltd :
www.caribou.net.au
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Caribou Publications Pty Ltd
Phone: 03 5224 2466
John Craven
Leanne Freeman
Diana Nardi
Warrnambool Citizens Road Race Committee
Lyndsay Hill
Mobile: 0408 313 765
Classic cycling’s top event
By ANDREW THOMSON
November 28, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
The Melbourne to Warrnambool: Australia’s top cycling event
THE Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic has been named the Australian Cycling Federation’s event of the year. Classic director John Craven said he attended the event in Sydney but didn’t realise the Classic had been nominated for the award. To win the title, the Classic was rated ahead of the Herald Sun Tour, Tour Down Under and events like the Australian titles. Road star Robbie McEwen was awarded his second Australian cyclist of the year title on Friday night after a stunning 12 months that netted him 20 professional wins.
“It was a real surprise … it did come out of the blue,'’ Craven said.
“It is the night of nights for Australian cycling and to take home the award ahead of those other events was a big effort.'’ Craven said the Warrnambool committee deserved the major share of the credit.
“I’m very happy for some of the stalwarts on the committee. They put in a lot of work that goes unrecognised,'’ he said.
“This year we had a fantastic race. The new things we put in place worked, we had super entries and the race was a terrific contest.'’
Craven has been involved in the Classic for 10 years.
“We’ve made a lot of radical changes, changes that had to be made and most of the proposals have been backed by the committee,'’ he said.
“We’ve got the race where we want it.'’
Craven said changing the race to a mass start from a handicap and changing the route to bypass Geelong and Colac were massive alterations.
But he said making the trek 299km through different countryside had allowed the organisers to bring in a king of the mountain category.
“Changing the route has added much more variety through different terrain,'’ Craven said.
“This year we had fantastic entries and the Classic itself was a terrific contest … it was brilliant.'’
Craven said committee chairman Geoff Rollinson led a hard-working group who wanted to improve the race.
“Now it’s time to consolidate. We’ve had that many changes that I now think we have got it right,'’ he said.
“This year everything went right. The weather was perfect, we had one of the best crowds I’ve ever seen at Camperdown and there was a great crowd at the finish.’
Swede success
By GREG GLIDDON
October 24, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
JONAS Ljungblad completed the trifecta of Australia’s great races on Saturday when he took out the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
Last year the Swede finished 10th in the Melbourne to Warrnambool just hours after stepping off the plane before he went on a three-week patch which saw him take out both the Herald-Sun Tour and the Tour of Queensland.
On Saturday, Ljungblad completed the big three by winning the world’s longest one-day race in a final desperate sprint to the line against South Australian Joshua Collingwood.
The pair got clear of the unlucky Queenslander Jason Phillips who was part of an early breakaway and held on to the lead group when challenged before running out of strength in the final race to the line.
The winner’s time was seven hours, 39 minutes and 21 seconds.
For Ljungblad, the Melbourne to Warrnambool success continues his excellent strike rate in Australia. He said his legs had always felt strong throughout the 299km epic, adding a group of his teammates had aided his victory. “We had two guys in the first break and they got a bit too much time (away),” he said.
“I’m not too sure exactly when I did the first move, but after 150km I thought we were making up some time on the breakaway group.
“I felt better and better. I had great legs.
“I always know that, if when it comes to the sprint, I have a big chance to win it.”
Ljungblad said he had initiated a chase with 70km to go, believing the two-minute gap to the leaders was starting to get out of hand.
“In the beginning I went alone,” he said.
“I knew it was two minutes to the front and I thought it was too much.
“Slowly we caught up to the breakaway group and it turned out to be a great group.
“Everyone worked together.”
Runner-up Collingwood could not hide his disappointment in coming so close to victory and missing out on the prize in a final sprint to the line.
“The plan was to ride away and win solo,” Collingwood said.
“Once he (Ljungblad) got the better of me the race was over.
“He was too quick for the finish.
“I put everything on that.
“I thought I had got rid of him on the line, but I wasn’t good enough.
“In the end it was getting too close and I had to start opening the race up, but it wasn’t quite enough.”
In his only other Classic, Collingwood finished seventh.
For third-placed Phillips, it was the second time he had finished on the podium in the race having also finished third in 1999. Phillips said his tactic was to go out hard believing an early breakaway was the key to success.
“I thought that was the right tactic to go with today,” Phillips said.
“The wind wasn’t too bad. Although it never really felt fast.
“I just kept plugging away and the group sort of fell apart a bit, which is normal. I was just hoping the guys behind were falling away too.
“I’ve been close a couple of times.
“I thought today it’s all or nothing and I may as well give it a big lash, but it just didn’t quite work out that way.”
CLASSIC RESULTS - TOP TEN
1: Jonas Ljungblad;
2: Joshua Collingwood;
3: Jason Phillips;
4: Tim Decker;
5: Dean Downing;
6: Tonny Nankervis;
7: Stephen Cunningham;
8: Simon Clarke;
9: Darren Lapthorne;
10: Peter Milostic.
SBS to make Cycling Classic Documentary
By GREG GLIDDON
October 12, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
AUSTRALIA’S premier cycling station, SBS, will produce a documentary about this year’s Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic and air it in November.
The brainchild of the 102 members of the Melbourne to Warrnambool society, the program has been funded through the membership of the group. It will be the first time the race has been broadcast in any way on television. Classic director John Craven said the time was right for a documentary about the race to be produced. “This is the 110th running of the race,” he said.
“Incredibly, in the 109 previous years there has never been any footage of what is one of Australia’s sporting institutions. “SBS will make a documentary of the event which will screen for an hour on November 13 at 11am."Craven said it was hoped that, one day, the Melbourne to Warrnambool could be televised on a regular basis but admitted that appeared to be some way off. “We’d all love to see that but it is an incredibly expensive exercise to televise such an event,” he said.
“The impetus for this was through the Melbourne to Warrnambool society and the funding for the documentary has come through the members.”
With the documentary scheduled, the race committee is searching for any footage or old clippings of the races history.
Committee chairman Geoff Rollinson encouraged anyone with footage of the race that could be used as part of the documentary to come forward. “The producers are keen to get a hold of any old footage of the race they can,” he said. “The organising committee would appreciate anyone who might have some film of previous races to bring it forward so the producers are able to use it.”
Super Classic
By LIZ McKINNON
October 4, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
Warrnambool Andy Graham was the first local home last year. He faces an even tougher challenge in this month’s Classic. What is shaping as the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic’s strongest field in 110 years has been topped up by seven of the United Kingdom’s best riders. The British Olympic track endurance squad, consisting of five British and two Scottish riders, was confirmed yesterday for the 299km trek on October 22. Classic director John Craven said that this year the Classic looked likely to host its largest international field.
The British line-up includes brothers Russell and Dean Downing, Shaun Sodden, Kristian House and Ben Greenwood. Russell Downing is the current British road champion while Dean held the yellow jersey in stages of last year’s Herald Sun Tour.
Sodden was fourth in the British road title earlier this year while House has represented Great Britain at the world championships and is a regular on the Herald Sun Tour. A leader of the squad will be Ben Greenwood who is the current British under 23 road race and time trial champion. Completing the line-up is Scotland’s No. 1 rider Evan Oliphant and last month’s Scottish road title runner-up Jason MacIntyre. “It is a tremendous team,” Craven said.
“It will be the strongest team to contest the Melbourne to Warrnambool in years. I have been developing an association with them over the past two years and they have accepted by invitation and will be riding in the grand prix race as well on the Sunday. “This is a further boost to the international status of the event.”
The Classic, which is being run for the first time over two days to include the Sunday grand prix, will now feature 16 international riders. Craven said popular Canadian cyclist Eric Wohlberg was also a confirmed starter. “He was a gold medallist at the time trial at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and has represented Canada at the past three Olympic Games,” Craven said. “He is tremendously popular and is a crowd favourite with the Australians.”
Also racing is the Swedish national road champion and last year’s Herald Sun Tour and Tour of Queensland winner Jonas Ljunglad. Italian Domenico Passuello, Poland’s Artur Krzeszowiec, Dainius Kairelis from Belarus and Lithuania’s Aliaksandr Kuchynski have also entered. Craven said he wasn’t expecting any other international riders but suggested that cyclists were known to make late decisions. “The cards have certainly fallen our way. We deliberately went after these riders to increase the quality of the field and it’s great that they have accepted our invitations,” he said. The Classic with be held later this year, on October 22, with the grand prix circuit around Warrnambool on October 23. Entries close on October 12.
Cycling trio set for Melbourne to Warrnambool
By GREG GLIDDON
September 30, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
SOUTH-WEST cycling stars will bypass this weekend’s Victorian Open Road Cycling Championships in Melbourne to focus on their own personal championship, the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic on October 22. All three south-west riders who are setting themselves to tackle the Melbourne to Warrnambool, Andy Graham, Jade Frankel and David Tozer, have decided to miss this week’s state titles in Mansfield. Graham, who has been in heavy training during the past two months for a shot at winning the world’s longest one-day race, said the flat surface of the Mansfield track and the fact it was so far to travel had deterred him from racing this weekend.
“It’s a shame, they send the race to Mansfield and then put it over a dead-flat seven-kilometre circuit,” he said. “It’s a long way to go to race on a track like that."Graham said he felt he was ready for another tilt at the Warrnambool Classic. “I’ve been going really well and have been getting a heap of long, quality rides in,” he said. “Of course my training has all been dependent on work, but when I haven’t been working I’ve been doing between 200 and 230km a day.
“I had a seven-hour 40-minute ride the other day and I backed up the next day fine. The body is feeling a lot better than it did about six weeks ago.”
Frankel said he would concentrate on a club meeting at Footscray this week instead of the Mansfield event. “My training has been going as well as it can,” he said. “I just think a club race at Footscray is just as good a training run as the race in Mansfield."I think there are a few who are missing the Mansfield weekend. It just goes to show that you need to bring the races to the riders.”
Tozer is preparing for his first Melbourne to Warrnambool after taking up cycling following a football career. “I’ve been racing for about six or seven years now,” he said. “I just started off as a bit of cross training to keep me fit during the off-season of the football. In the end, I just started enjoying losing bike races more than playing football games.'’ Tozer has previously driven the Melbourne to Warrnambool as a member of Frankel’s support crew.
“It’s a great way to learn the race,” he said. “This year my number one aim is to finish. “Hopefully I can stay as close to the pointy end as I can and not spend too much energy early on,” he said.
Melbourne to Warrnambool Society
April 7, 2005
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, which is the world’s second oldest and longest one-day bike race at 299.1 kms, and the Warrnambool Grand Prix will be held over the weekend of October 22 - 23, 2005. As part of the lead up for this years event a support group has been formed called the Melbourne to Warrnambool Society.
MELBOURNE TO WARRNAMBOOL SOCIETY PRIZE WINNERS
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Society would like to congratulate all the Prize Winners from our membership drive. Thank you for your valued support!
1. Number: 82. Global Sportsbet ~ Gary & Dianne Walsh
2. Number: 102. The Warrnambool Football Club ~ Andrew Robb
3. Number: 25. L. J. Hooker ~ Paul Harris
4. Number: 78. West Coast Spinal & Sports Physiotherapy ~ Margaret & Franco Cavalieri
5. Number 74. Tendob Constructions Pty. Ltd. ~ Damian Dobson
6. Number 71. John O?Sullivan & Family Funeral Directors
7. Number 20. Jade Frankel
8. Number 65. Bill Dove
9. Number 116. Premier Plumbing Service ~ Grant Donald
10. Number 15. Tudor Motor Inn ~ Barbara Porter
For further information about the Melbourne to Warranmbool Society please contact Leanne Freeman:
Caribou Publications
PO Box 4162
Geelong, Victoria 3220
Phone: 03 5224 2466
Fax: 03 5224 2467
Email: leanne@caribou.net.au
Boost for Cycling Classic
By ANDREW THOMSON
February 16, 2005
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is set to become a weekend cycling extravaganza with the introduction of a criterium series.
Race director John Craven said the criterium series would complement the Classic and encourage riders and their support crews to stay in Warrnambool overnight. “The Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic will remain the world’s longest one-day race and the second oldest bike race,'’ he said. “But riders and crews have not stayed in Warrnambool for the 110 years of the Classic and that’s the aim of the Warrnambool Grand Prix to be held on Sunday, October 23.'’
Craven said four criterium races would be held around Warrnambool streets and cater for A, B, C and D grade cyclists.
Total prizemoney for the Classic and the criteriums will be $25,000, with $8000 up for grabs in the criteriums, including $3500 for the A grade. The criteriums are proposed to be 30 laps of a 1.1 kilometre circuit starting and finishing at the Warrnambool Bowls Club around Timor, Banyan, Merri and Japan streets.
Craven said the tight circuit would make for spectacular racing.
“These sort of events are based on a European model. It’s great for spectators when you consider the crowd only gets to see the finish of the Melbourne to Warrnambool,'’ he said.
“Having four grades will cater for all cyclists and riders don’t have to compete in the Classic to take part in the criteriums.'’
The criteriums are planned to kick off with D grade at 10am, C grade 11am, B grade noon and A grade at 1pm.
Craven said there would be 11 sprint bonuses during each criterium.
He said a one-hour TV documentary was also planned by the same production crew which covered the Herald Sun Tour and the Tour of Queensland.
The documentary is expected to be shown on both SBS and Fox Sports.
Craven said the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic had taken gigantic leaps forward in the past few years and the volunteer committee in Warrnambool deserved much of the credit.
He said a Melbourne to Warrnambool Society would also be established for 200 members costing $250 each.
“This is the most traditional and prestigious cycling event in the country. Part of the incentive for members will be prizes to the 2006 Tour de France and this year’s Tour of Queensland,'’ he said.
This story was found at: http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2005/02/16/1108500110196.html
Courtesy of The Warrnambool Standard Newspaper
A Classic Winner
The Tabaret Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic finished in sensational style with a record breaking win by 18 year-old cycling hero from Victoria, William Walker.
The youngest rider to win the event, Walker was joined by fellow VIS rider Jonathon Clarke who placed second and third place getter David Pell came along in the next pack of riders.
128 starters took to the start line at Kooringal Golf Club, Altona, for the longest bike race on the UCI calendar. At 299 kilometres long (extended by 32 kilometres this year for safety reasons), it provided a spectacle for onlookers and a huge challenge for the local, national and international riders.
End of line activities moved up a notch with the big increase in numbers in the second running of the Chevy Cars on Show, and a large field in the Timbercorp Community Bike Ride.
Dorothy the Dinosaur, the popular character from the Wiggles and sponsored by Tabcorp, was a huge hit with the crowd, drawing an estimated 3000 people to the finishing line during the course of the afternoon.
The free community BBQ drew a welcome response from the hundreds that lined up to receive their lunch courtesy of Tabcorp, and other entertainment ensured that the crowd lingered until the approx 3.30pm finish.
For further information about the Tabaret Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic please contact the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic Committee via info@melbournetowarrnambool.com . If you have questions regarding the www.melbournetowarrnambool.com website then please contact: Ausvision: Australian Digital Media
