Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is a swept -day race in Australia for cyclists, which is the longest in the racing calendar of the UCI with a total length of about 300 kilometers.
The first edition of the race was held in 1895. This makes it the oldest of the Australian continent and one of the oldest in the world. Since the introduction of the UCI ProTour and related Continental Circuits in 2005, the race belonged to the race calendar of the UCI Oceania Tour and takes place every year in mid October. It is classified in category 1.2. Since the 2008 edition, the race is no longer part of the UCI Oceania Tour.
Traditionally, the race starts in Melbourne and leads the driver via the Princes Highway, a part of the 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 driver took the route individually in attack as they took off from Melbourne at various time intervals. Only since 1996, will start the race with a mass start, for up to 250 Starter declare each year. These are divided into categories A ( professionals ), B, C and D. There is to be traversed, in the cities premiums sprints and at the six climbs points will be awarded for the mountains classification.
Length of the route and guide varies from year to year. By 2003, the riders had to travel 265 kilometers. In the following two years and 299.1 in 2006 even 300.3 km.
History
Origin and first edition of the race
In 1895 Don Charlston came up with the idea a race on the track to perform Melbourne - Warrnambool after the track was driven with a wheel itself to achieve an objective in the Port of Warrnambool ship home in time, but what he due to the rough seas ultimately failed.
Ten weeks later, on October 5, 1895, the first edition was held that A. Calder, who started with a handicap of two hours, won. For 165 miles ( 265.5 kilometers ), he needed 11 hours and 44 minutes. Despite a puncture near Geelong, which cost him about 20 minutes, he crossed the finish line 31 minutes ahead of second place. Jim Carpenter drove 10 hours and 52 minutes while the fastest time of all participants, but finished only fourth.
Overall, 50 riders signed up for the race. Ultimately, started only 24 riders, 7 of which reached the target. The drivers were divided into three classes. The first class started at three clock in the morning, the next an hour later and the last one more. The fact that they had found a sponsor for the race, it was called the Scott -Morton Road Race and there were four prizes for the drivers. The winner won a bicycle and the respective class winner, a clock, a punch bowl or a tea and coffee service.
Records
Record winner of the race is the Australian Peter Besanko with a total of three wins.
The record for the fastest time on the old, 165 mile course keeps the four-time Olympic medalist Dean Woods. In 1990 he completed the course in 5 hours and 12 minutes.
List of winners
- 2013 New Zealand Samuel Horgan
- 2012 Netherlands Floris Goes Inside
- 2011 Australia Joel Pearson
- 2010 Australia Rhys Pollock
- 2009 Australia Joel Pearson
- 2008 Australia Zakkari Dempster
- 2007 Australia Timothy Decker
- 2006 Australia Robert McLachlan
- 2005 Sweden Jonas Ljungblad
- 2004 Australia William Walker
- 2003 Australia Simon Gerrans
- 2002 Australia Jamie Drew
- 2001 Australia David McKenzie
- 2000 Australia Hilton Clarke
- 1999 Australia Jamie Drew
- 1998 Belgium Bart Heirewegh
- 1997 Switzerland Daniel Schnider
- 1996 Australia Chris White
- 1995 Australia B. McAuliffe
- 1994 Australia G. Parsonage
- 1993 Australia Dean Woods
- 1992 Australia Peter Besanko
- 1991 Australia A. Stirling
- 1990 Australia R. Jordan
- 1989 Australia Peter Besanko
- 1988 Australia B. Burns
- 1987 Australia P. Rugari
- 1986 Australia Michael Lynch
- 1985 Australia B. Leach
- 1984 Australia Peter Besanko
- 1983 Australia A. Lindsay
- 1982 Australia David Allan
- 1981 Australia P. Cox
- 1980 Australia J. Hine
- 1979 Australia David Allan
...
...
...
...