LANCE Armstrong got by without them but a pair of wings was enough to give Winslow's Dean Field a flying start in yesterday's Le Tour de Moyne.
Dean, 17, was one of more than 100 cyclists to take part in the seven-hour, 130km event that wove its way across the Moyne Shire.
"It was really great weather going from Panmure to Mortlake," he said.
"But from Mortlake heading towards Hawkesdale the winds were pretty strong.
"We all rode at a snail's pace together for the final stage between Koroit and Port Fairy."
In its second year, the event set off from Panmure at 7am, heading north towards Mortlake, then across to Hawkesdale before finishing up at Port Fairy via Koroit. Dean, who was also involved in last year's event, said he wore the costume to add to the day's festivities.
"Last year I wore a ballerina tutu and everyone got a laugh out of that," he said.
"It seems to liven up the spirits of everyone in the event."
The tour concluded at Port Fairy's Railway Place at 2pm when the riders met for a barbecue lunch and to hear a performance by local bands Chaotic Crusade and I Dream of Genre.
Moyne Shire Council youth development officer Geraldine Edar said yesterday's windy conditions made it tough for participants in some stages of the event.
"But they didn't give up and everyone had a great time," she said.
Ride director Jeff McLean, a veteran of the Murray to Moyne cycle relay event, said the tour was based on the famous river-to-coast cycling race.
"We've designed the route with other cycling events in mind but the kids involved were a lot better behaved than the Murray to Moyne competitors," he laughed.