THE 82nd Alex Roberts 100 Mile Classic will pedal through Mount Gambier and the surrounding districts tomorrow.
Believed to be the richest handicap race in Australia with a $2000 purse for first place and a total prize pool of more than $14,000, the 100 Mile Classic attracts high calibre riders and teams both nationally and internationally.
While last year’s winner Joseph Cooper will not be returning to defend his title, one entrant of note to watch out for will be Mount Gambier’s own Angus Maddern.
Maddern is fresh off an impressive win at the Victorian 100km Championship race at Casterton and will be out to claim the top step of the podium once again.
Other local riders who are all in with a chance at the win include Scott Waters – who finished in a close second to Matthew Opperman in 2016 – Daniel Herrewyn and Jack Patzel.
The iconic cycling road race will kick off from Tenison Woods College, White Avenue at 10am.
Cyclists will head down White Avenue and onto Benara Road before pedalling their way around Kongorong, Tantanoola and the Millicent.
A feed station will be up and running on Mile Hill, before riders descend into Glencoe.
They then proceed along Kangaroo Flat Road back to the Jubilee Highway and onto Tollner Road, before feed station two on Grant Avenue.
The cyclists will continue down Bay Road to Port MacDonnell before making their way back to Mount Gambier for the breathtaking 70kph sprint-finish to complete the demanding 160km course.
With several sprints along the way there will be plenty of great vantage points for spectators to see the riders battle.
In a new initiative, the Mount Gambier Cycling Club hopes for a large field for the Women’s 100km Classic.
The numbers will allow the women’s event to be ran separately to the men’s, which will make for two exciting finishes down the Bay Road hill.
The Junior Classic will starting from Tollner Road around 11am after all the senior riders have left from Tenison Woods.
Two groups of budding cyclists will be competing – the Under 15/17’s will lead followed by the Under 11/13’s, which will race 26km and 9.4km respectively.
Local riders to look out for in the junior events include Jack Opperman – who managed bronze in the Junior Track Cycling Nationals – Tess Wight – who claimed third at the ACT Junior Tour – Amy Wight, Prudence Riddoch, Harrison Opperman and in his first meet Kobi Svec.
A presentation will be held at the Mount Gambier Community RSL at 6pm in conclusion of all events.
Meanwhile, on Sunday the SA Kermesse State Championships will take place around the iconic 3.6km Blue Lake circuit, which boasts both impressive views and challenging undulating roads.
Classes will start off at 8am with the Junior Kermesse where local riders Jack Opperman, Tess Wight, Amy Wight, Prudence Riddoch and Harrison Opperman will test their luck.
Next up will see the Women’s State Open Championship take place – entries permitting – before the Graded Kermesse where Mount Gambier rider Gerard Coote will compete.
Sunday will round off with the main event – the Men’s State Open Championship – where Angus Maddern, Daniel Herrewyn and Jack Patzel will battle for victory.
