The 28-year-old defied persistent showers and the notorious south-west headwind along the 262-kilometre journey, sponsored by Eastern Oak.

Wiping the sweat, rain and tears away from his freckled face, an elated Pearson found one word to describe his win: “Awesome”.

“I can’t believe it,” he said as he was swamped by the all-conquering Genesys Wealth Advisers crew.

“I was just trying to get off the front to take pressure off my teammate Steele (Von Hoff), who is a good sprinter, and I got away.

“The leading bunch hesitated a bit so I just ran with it.”

A record 210 riders rolled up to the Werribee starting line at 7.30am on Saturday morning — the most since the 116-year-old race became a massed-start in 1996.

Pearson was part of the eight-man Genesys team, which included Herald Sun Tour winner Nathan Haas and Scody Cup title holder Von Hoff.

“I was feeling confident before the race,” Pearson said.

“The Warrnambool is one of my most passionate races so I try to step up for it every year.”

And the New South Welshman didn’t disappoint.

The infamous stretch from Lismore to Camperdown lived up to its reputation as gusty side-winds caused some minor crashes.

Pearson avoided trouble and was among the leading bunch of 25 at Terang on the Princes Highway, about 40 kilometres from Warrnambool, when the group started to stir.

Riders tried desperately to break away but it was Pearson and young debutant Luke Fetch who sprinted clear at Cudgee, opening up a 400m gap.

The duo worked together until they were 10 kilometres from home, when a gradual incline was too much for the 21-year-old Search2Retain team member.

“I didn’t try to get rid of him,” Pearson said.

“He just didn’t have the legs on one of the hills.

“I found myself riding solo, which isn’t ideal, but it paid off.”

Unlike Pearson’s 2009 victory, when he had to out-sprint Hobart’s Daniel Furmston, the hard work was already done.

He crossed the finish line with a time of seven hours, 24 minutes and 14 seconds — more than 10 seconds ahead of Haas who managed to chase down third-placed Fetch.

Samuel Davis, from WA, was fourth and Von Hoff fifth.

“I was pretty lucky I didn’t have to race anyone in the finish,” Pearson said.

“I’ve never won a decent race solo before.”

The broad smile on Pearson’s face masked a gruelling personal journey just to get back on two wheels, after he was involved in a “horrific” car accident in France in 2008.

He spent six weeks in intensive care, including four in a coma.

He used a stationary bike as part of his rehabilitation.

"When you come back from anything like that, you come back stronger," he said.

"I don’t know if I would be the same mentally if I hadn’t gone through that."

The eloquent Haas looked as fresh as ever when he accepted the runner-up bouquet.

"I was very willing to sacrifice myself for the team," he said.

"I had a big smile inside knowing Joel had the win and that it was probably going to be a one-two.

"Its a great result for Genesys."

Young Fetch promised he would be back next year.

"At the time we broke away I was feeling pretty good," he said.

"But when I hit the 10-kilometre mark I didn’t have much left so I went down a few gears.

"I’m pretty happy with third."

The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is the world’s second-oldest bike race and the longest in the southern hemisphere.