Australia’s best cyclists descend on the South East for 100 Mile Classic

100 Mile Back Tbj 3943  TBW Newsgroup
CLASSIC RETURNS: The Mount Gambier 100 Mile Classic cycling road race is about to hit the Limestone Coast, with 135 competitors registered in one of the best fields ever seen in the 83 years of the events.

100 Mile Back Tbj 3943 TBW Newsgroup
CLASSIC RETURNS: The Mount Gambier 100 Mile Classic cycling road race is about to hit the Limestone Coast, with 135 competitors registered in one of the best fields ever seen in the 83 years of the events.

THE annual 100 Mile Classic cycling road race is finally here, with 135 competitors set to take to the roads around the South East tomorrow in the time-honoured event.

Among those will be some big names in Australian cycling in both the men’s and women’s ranks.

The men will cover the full 160km distance, while the women will race over a 112km course.

Numbers are up from last year, with an extra 20 men lining up, along with 23 more women.

The event will be complemented by the South Australia Open Kermesse Championships on Sunday around the Blue Lake, with the majority of the 100 Mile Classic field participating.

That in itself promises some exciting competition, with the Elite men racing for 75 minutes, before a final two laps to the chequered flag.

Tomorrow’s race is the big one for the region, now in its 83rd year.

It all kicks off from Tenison Woods College at 10am, before working its way out towards Kongorong, across through Tantanoola and Millicent, then back along the Range Hill, into Mount Gambier and down to Port MacDonnell.

From there the riders head back into Mount Gambier, which will this year see rolling road blocks to ensure safety as the handicap groups come together late in the race.

The last stretch is often the most gruelling, as riders have already conquered the Range Hill, but then have to contend with cross winds and the scratch riders pushing hard to catch the lead group for a sprint down Bay Road to the finish outside the police station.

Being a handicap event, the weather can play a major role.

Good conditions suit the lesser-ranked riders, while the elite riders prefer tough conditions, with their extra strength and endurance coming to the fore as the kilometres wind down.

Mount Gambier’s Matthew Opperman won the event just a few years ago, while last year saw rising star Jarrad Drizners take control as the race entered the city limits on the final run to the finish line.

Both are among the field this year, with Drizzners keen to defend his 2018 title.

For Mount Gambier Cycling Club president Dean Zeven all is in place for another successful event, with excitement levels high.

Zeven said the club was pleased with the big fields – 95 entries for the men – and the calibre of cyclists.

“We have a good number of entries and the fields are really strong,” he said.

“There are some top names coming, some world champions, gold medalists, Commonwealth Games representatives.

“There is everything there.”

The men’s Elite class has many riders capable of a big finish, with strong international experience, including Leigh Howard, who Zeven expects to perform well.

“Leigh Howard is a former professional road rider,” Zeven said.

“He rode in the Vuelta a Espana twice, the Giro d’Italia twice – he has even ridden in the Tour de France.

“He is one of four riders – Sam Welsford, Alexander Porter and Cameron Scott – they were all in the world record and world championship team pursuit in February.

“They will be the ones to look out for.”

As for the women, a couple of big names stand out in the 28-strong field.

Amy Cure is one, who was featured in yesterday’s edition of The Border Watch, but she will certainly have her hands full, especially with the likes of Annette Edmondson in the field.

“Annette Edmondson is 15 times senior national track champion, has two Commonwealth Games gold medals, a bronze and a silver,” Zeven said.

“She is the current world champion on the track and won a stage in the Santos Tour Down Under as well.”

Zeven said the increase in numbers and quality had come about due to better promotion from Cycling South Australia and Cycling Victoria, along with word of mouth.

He also noted the many riders representing the Limestone Coast, including Angus Maddern, Jack Patzel, Luke Wight and former winner Matthew Opperman, among others.

“Angus is deservedly in the scratch group – he is the only local in the scratch group,” he said.

“I think if he is attentive and there are breaks he will be in it.

“He is a very powerful rider and has every chance of winning.

“Jack has been training for road so he should put in a good show, but Luke has been training mainly for sprint and on the track.

“His legs are not set up for endurance at the moment which is why he is not in the scratch group.

“Matthew Opperman won in 2016 and shares a group with Scott Waters and David Bryant.

“Robert Mann is another of our veterans and has been a club member for a long time.”

Zeven said with the quality of the scratch riders – which number 26 – he expected a big group at the end of the race.

He said that would provide and exciting sight along Bay Road.

“I would like to see the limit riders get caught somewhere along the road from Port MacDonnell,” he said.

“To see a giant group of riders in one peleton will be pretty exciting.

“I am tipping the scratch riders, if they work together, should not have too much trouble rounding everyone up.”

Junior riders will also participate in their own version of the race starting on Tolners Road.