The Albury rider battled brutal conditions throughout the 262-kilometre journey, summoning a final burst of speed from the Banyan Street intersection to propel him past gallant Horsham rider Mark O'Brien and on to victory in the TORQ Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic on Saturday.

Pollock first attempted the distance in 1999 and said he had dreamt ever since of winning the prestigious race.

On his sixth outing, it came true. "I just can't believe it, I'm really stoked," the 30-year-old said.

"This is the best one-day race in Australia and to win it is beyond my wildest dreams but it has been a goal for the past 11 years.

''This is the one I really wanted to win."

The 212-strong field set off from Werribee in the bleak, early hours of Saturday morning.

Almost immediately the riders were battered by strong head and crosswinds of up to 60km/h and erratic pelting rain.

The field suffered about 50 punctures, riders were spread out over 60 kilometres and more than half (119) of the starters didn't make it to the finish line.

Pollock said the conditions were some of the toughest he had experienced.

He said his time of seven hours, 49 minutes and 40 seconds was an indication of the heavy going.

"It was a headwind all day," he said. "It really hurt. It took nearly eight hours so it was pretty bad."

After surviving the hazardous cross from Lismore to Camperdown, Pollock, O'Brien and Tasmania's Tim Robinson made a break from the main peloton on the rise at Lake Bullen Merri.

Despite the clean getaway, Pollock and his Drapac cycling team officials thought he stood little chance of completing the race.

"When we got away on the hill I was really struggling," he said.

"I had to sit on (the leading pair's wheel) and I thought I was going to get dropped.

"My team manager actually came up to me and said if I don't think I can win then just sit on and we've got two guys (from Drapac) coming."

The famished Pollock said he enjoyed a quiet meal as he coasted along in the slipstream of O'Brien and Robinson.

"I just kept eating and had some Coke," he said.

"I was just stuffing everything into myself that I could, then I just came good."

The trio shared leading duties as they pushed through the "blockhead" south-westerly on the Princes Highway.

But Pollock admitted he missed some turns at the front, leaving his young opponents to do most of the work.

"I had to ride pretty tactically towards the end," he said.

"It doesn't look very good but at the end of the day you're here to win the race.

"If someone lets you sit on the back and they're happy for you to do that, then that's racing."

O'Brien attacked on several occasions after Panmure in a bid to shake off sprinters Pollock and Robinson.

But his exhaustive challenges resulted in a punctured rear tyre near Allansford - causing a collective sigh of disappointment from the crowd at the finish line.

However, after a quick wheel change the resilient Victorian used the car convoy as a wind block and caught up with Pollock and Robinson at Premier Speedway.

O'Brien even tried to pass the pair but was immediately reined in.

"I knew he'd come back and I knew his tactics would not be to wait for a sprint," Pollack said of the Horsham Cycling Club member.

Classic debutant Robinson bailed out of contention at the Fletcher Jones bend.

Pollock again snuck behind O'Brien and waited until the final 200 metres to pounce.

"Mark is not known for a fast sprint but (sprinting) is something I've been working on," he said.

"I thought if I could get to the finish I would give it a red hot go."

Pollock raised his arms and let out a triumphant roar as he rolled over the line, three seconds ahead of O'Brien.

"He wasn't too keen on helping out," O'Brien said of the classic's victor.

"I just had to try to get rid of them but unfortunately I couldn't.

"Second (place) is still a good result (and) I didn't hypothermia so that's good too."

Robinson came third with a time of 7:49:57.

The two female riders did not finish.