THE Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is still three-and-a-half months away but Australian Criterium Champion Brenton Jones has already committed to tackling the grueling event.
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Jones, who was in Warrnambool for the launch of the revamped classic, will return to the start line on February 15 with hopes of adding another "Warrny" finish to his name.
The 27-year-old, who recently returned from a busy European pro cycling season with french team Delko Marseille, said he hadn't raced in the classic for two years but was eager to have a crack at the new addition to the program.
"I'd love to come back and do it next year and the criterium on the Sunday is going to be extra special for me to take up a weekend of racing here," the Warragal export told The Standard.
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Jones, who hopes to be wearing the green and gold colours as a two-time national criterium champion when he returns in February, said the changes to the time-honoured event would help boost the experience for everyone.
"Having an extended weekend and with the criterium on the Sunday will be really great for not only the spectators but the riders," he said.
"They are going to take part in one of the most grueling and toughest races in Australian and the world on Saturday and on the Sunday they're going to see the fast legs of the sprinters racing around the waterfront."
Jones, who is hoping to use the Melbourne to Warrnambool to springboard him into a new season in Europe, said the 1.6-kilometre course around the breakwater would bring out the peloton's power riders.
"It's a beautiful spot to race your bike as it's flat and it's going to be a tight technical finish," he said.
"You have to have some fast legs (to excel in criteriums) obviously but the sprinters are going to be the ones benefiting over the climbers and the skinny guys so you need to have some strength and some power and have no fear."
Jones recently returned to Australia after completing his 2019 season with a podium finish in the criterium at the Japan Cup on October 20.
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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.
