FORMER AUSTRALIAN professional cyclist Phil Anderson put his stamp of approval on the date change for the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
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Historically Australia’s oldest one-day cycling race was held in October until a shift mid-way through 2018 meant the race was set to run in February.
Anderson, who was in Port Campbell for the south-west leg of AFL umpires Ray Chamberlain’s charity event Razor Ride, welcomed the February 16 start.
“They are trying to capture the riders that have been here for the summer of cycling as there are still some teams here,” the 60-year-old said.
“I can understand why they have moved it and partially the reason why I hadn’t raced it because it was at the end of the season and I was pretty tired.
“They are trying to capture because they have the riders here from the Tour Down Under, Cadel’s (Great Ocean Road) Ride and the (Herald) Sun Tour as it’s only another week.”
Anderson, who was the first first non-European to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France, said he wished the circumstances were different to when he rode professional between 1980 and 1994.
The Kennett River resident said there was still an appetite for the modern pro cyclist to attempt the revamped 262-kilometre course, which includes Geelong, Winchelsea, Birregurra, Colac, Port Campbell, Peterborough and Allansford before finishing in Warrnambool.
“The Warrni is special because it has so much history,” he said. “You do it for the heritage and it’s such a highly respected event in Australia.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
