Picture: HEATHER PATZEL
THE annual 100 Mile Classic cycling race is almost upon us, with the time-honoured men’s event to run Saturday May 18.
Included on the day is the 111km Women’s Classic, with both events to kick off at Tenison Woods College on White Avenue at 10am.
The field will then ride through Kongorong, Tantanoola, Millicent, Glencoe and back to Mount Gambier, where the women will finish on Bay Road in front of the police station.
The men will continue on to Port MacDonnell and return for a finish also on Bay Road.
Last year’s men’s winner Jarrad Drizners will attempt a back-to-back win, while many other top riders are expected to enter.
Australian track cyclist Amy Cure will headline the women’s field, with this year’s first prize $2000 for the men and $1000 for the women.
Upcoming cyclists will also be on display, with the Junior Classic to start on Tollner Road at 11am, heading out to the end of Cafpirco Road before finishing back where it started.
The Under 11/13’s will compete over 9.4km and the Under 15/17’s over 33km.
Dean Zeven will witness his fifth event as president of the host Mount Gambier Cycling Club and expects a top day of action in what is one of the few handicap road races left in the country.
“It is the 83rd running of the race which has always been a handicap event,” he said.
“It is also one of the longest in history and distance.”
In the past the race has been run on open main roads and while this year is the same in that respect, some parts of the course will include rolling road closures.
The idea is to ensure the safety of the riders as the various bunches come together, especially on the way down to and returning from Port MacDonnell.
“When the bunches join together they get pretty big and take up more of the road,” Zeven said.
“The police are looking at a rolling road closure from Port MacDonnell back to Mount Gambier for the first one or two bunches, depending on the size of them.
“There is always wind at Port MacDonnell which can spread the peleton out across the road.
“The riders will echelon into each other to try to get out of the wind.”
Zeven said the scratch riders – the stronger in the field who start from the back – enjoy the variety of the course, with undulations and the weather itself playing a big part.
“The scratch riders like the tough course and tough conditions because it really challenges them,” he said.
“They tend to be stronger in windier and more adverse conditions, so it gives them a chance to catch up to the limit riders who head out first.”
Zeven said he expects the pace to be hot this year, with the scratch riders to average around 48kph over the 160km distance.
Spectators can have a good view of the start from White Avenue, while along the course there are many good spots to watch the action.
That includes the brutal Range Hill section, up Grant Avenue where there is a feeding station, while the finish down Bay Road can be a fast and exciting sprint to the line, especially if a small group rounds the top corner together.
The race is expected to finish around 2.30pm.
