With a sell-out field of over 220 riders set to tackle the 103rd Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool, there are plenty of riders to watch including the pros looking to take the win, and others who are just hoping to finish this incredible race for the first time.
Men’s Cycling Australia National Road Series
Nathan Elliott (Melbourne) – InForm TM InSight MAKE
The Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool defending champion returns to the race to attempt to become the first person to win three Melbourne to Warrnambool’s in a row. Nathan recently won the sprint classification at WorldTour event the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January.
Liam White (Ballarat) – Drapac Cannondale Holistic Development Team.
A strong rider who loves to ride aggressively in breakaways. Liam recently finished on the podium behind Owain Doull and Luke Rowe (Team Sky) on stage 3 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
Nick White (Ballarat) – Team BridgeLane
Younger brother to Liam, Nick has had a stellar start to the 2019 season, winning the under 23 Cycling Australia FedUni Road National Championships. His national title comes after finishing second overall in the 2018 Cycling Australia National Road Series. Nick will race the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool after competing in WorldTour events the Santos Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race with the Australian National Team.
Ayden Toovey (Mudgee) – Team BridgeLane
At the recent Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Ayden was the only rider who was able to take a classification off WorldTour powerhouse Team Sky when he won the sprint classification. Ayden knows the ‘Warrny’ well, having finished second to Nathan Elliott in 2016.
Raphael Freienstein (Melbourne) – InForm TM InSight MAKE
Having raced and lived in Australia for years, Germany’s Raphael now calls Melbourne home. Raphael won the 2018 Cycling Australia National Road Series as a result of some strong results where he finished second behind Nathan Elliott at the 2018 Grafton to Inverell and took a stage win at the Tour of Tasmania.
Dylan McKenna (Castlemaine) – ACE Radio 3YBFM Team
Riding as part of the composite ACE Radio team, Dylan is another under 23 rider who has had an exciting summer. Dylan won a wildcard to race with WorldTour team Katusha at the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits. At the under 23 Cycling Australia FedUni Road National Championships, Dylan claimed the most aggressive and King of the Mountains classifications.
Cameron Ivory (Hunter Valley, NSW) – GPM Stultz
Cameron is the reigning elite mens mountain bike national champion, and just last weekend he won the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival in Tredbo, NSW.
Women’s elite
Rebecca Wiasak, Canberra
A two time world champion on the track, Rebecca is now forging her way on the road with two Cycling Australia elite women’s National Criterium Championship titles to her name.
Peta Mullens, Bendigo
Peta is an 11 time national champion across all cycling disciplines road, track, mountain bike and CX. She will be a strong leader on the road for her younger Roxsolt teammate 18-year-old Sarah Gigante.
Sarah Gigante, Melbourne
At just 18 years old, Sarah is the reigning elite women’s road national champion and the under 23 women’s time trial champion. The results from last month’s Cycling Australia Road National Championships continued a whirlwind twelve months for the Brunswick rider. Sarah represented Australia at both Road and Track World Championships, and claimed six national titles on the road and track.
Men’s B Grade
Bruce Trew, Mornington
The Manager of Customer Projects for United Energy is riding the race for the third time and has best mate Steven Neave (C Grade) to ride with. Bruce will have plenty of support as the race goes past his hometown of Colac.
Men’s C Grade
James Bryne, 37yrs, Warrnambool
The local Warrnambool school teacher will be racing the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool for the first time.
Simon Kelson, 40yrs, Footscray
Originally from Camperdown, Simon will ride the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool for the first time while raising money for Brain Cancer. Simon has raised 28 thousand dollars already.
His donation page: https://donateplanet.com/fundraisers/read/175978/riding-for-retta-fighting-brain-cancer/?fbclid=IwAR12Pfvz35-KHxCF6XDg8LlEMCMfF3vZTvUGq9k5BzMsQmTouz79T7X_gsY
Duncan Murray, 49, Melbourne
Cycling Australia Chairman Duncan Murray will ride the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool for the fourth year in a row.
Steven Neave, Mornington
Born and raised in Colac, the General Manager Electricity Networks for CitiPower and Powercor is riding the race for the first time alongside best mate Bruce Trew (B Grade).
Photo credit: Cycling Australia
