A WEEK of breakaways has primed Ben Hill for another gruelling effort at the 104th edition of the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
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The escape artist secured the green sprinter's jersey at the Herald Sun Tour last week and is hoping to add another win using similar tactics on Saturday.
Hill will be riding for Team BridgeLane in his third "Warrny" after joining his brother Sam in the National Road Series team for season 2020.
The Canberra-based rider, who has been balancing rest, recovery and training for this weekend at home, is hopeful another breakaway will help his chances at Australia's oldest one-day race.
"For me I'm not going to win if there is a bunch sprint so I have to be aggressive," the 30-year-old said.
"I don't think I can be as aggressive as I was on the Sun Tour with the length of this race but I will look to be a little more selective with the attacks and look at who is around.
"I'll also keep track of my teammates and use my energy to be attacking at one point or another."
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Hill, who is engaged to last year's women's third place Rebecca Wiasak, said he would look to continue the run of form he built at the Herald Sun Tour.
"That (the green jersey win) was good for my confidence and it showed I could back up day to day and feel good," he said.
"That was big for me and I think now racing at the domestic level I see myself as one of the stronger riders."
But one thing Hill would rather not carry from the Sun Tour into the Warrny is cramping muscles.
The former Ljubljana Gusto Santic team rider's leg completely locked up with 30 kilometres to go in the 178.1km stage three of last week's tour.
But with time at home, Hill is doing everything to make sure he doesn't cramp for a second time in two weeks and for a second time at the Melbourne to Warrnambool after also locking up in the 2019 edition of the race.
"It's a little bit concerning (possibly getting another cramp) because the Warrny is another long day but I'm sipping on some electrolytes to hopefully help get rid of that concern," he said.
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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.
