Melbourne to Warrnambool launched

The 2007 edition of the world's longest one day bike race, the 300km Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, will be launched today at its new start destination: the Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club. The Victoria, Australia race, which fielded a record 192 entrants last year, is hoping to go bigger this year, with organiser John Craven aiming to break the 200 entrants barrier.

"We're again looking at bringing out some top-rated overseas riders for the event," Craven told the Geelong Advertiser. "Last year we had a good line-up of locals and overseas competitors including Kristian House from England and Kjell Carlstrom from Finland."

The 112 year-old race is aiming for excellence and hopes to add another Cycling Australia Event of the Year award to the one it claimed in 2005. "With the current boom in cycling in Australia, it's resulted in a reinvigoration of the Melbourne to Warrnambool," Craven said. "This race is an Australian sports institution."

The event, which will be run on October 27, has also announced a massive $17,000 in prize money for this year, including some $2000 for first place in A Grade.