Chris Froome headlines the race as Team BridgeLane win with Saunders

A South Australian claimed the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, ahead of one of the sport‘s greatest ever. Here’s how it finished.

Not even the late entry of one of the world's best riders could stop Tristan Saunders from winning the Melbourne to Warrnambool classic.

The South Australian charged home late to win Australia’s longest and second oldest road race, winning by almost three minutes after more than seven hours of racing.

The win was against some of the best riders in Australia and the world with four time Tour de France winner Chris Froome a late edition to the race.

The 37-year-old, who competed at the recent Tour Down Under, added the gruelling event to his schedule and ended up finishing in 12th, more than five minutes away from Saunders.

“I came here looking for a hard training ride and that’s exactly what I got,” Froome said after the race.

“I finished completely cross eyed over the finish line there.

“What a day that was an amazing race, an amazing event, very well organised, great racing.”

Saunders made his move with 20km to go.

The Team BridgeLane rider was part of a 20 person group who closed down multiple breaks during the afternoon until Saunders made the decisive break.

“I’ve always really like the prestige around this race, it’s so much history, the first time I came here I didn’t even race I just watched it,” he said.

“I just really loved the feel of it.

“I then got to do it for the first time in 2019 and I’ve been back every year since.

“And honestly I can’t believe that I’ve now won it, it’s amazing”

“Wearing this yellow jersey is pretty good.

“Honestly, personally it’s awesome but I definitely couldn’t have done it without the team.

“ I had the perfect ride today, I just looked after myself because we were always in the perfect position.

“Then I was able to capitalise on having an easy day and just put my head down and went to the line as hard as I could.”

In the women’s race, ARA Skip Capital’s Sophie Edwards won, beating home almost a dozen riders in a sprint finish.

She beat Chloe Hosking and two-time winner of the event Matilda Raynolds.

EARLIER

As Australia’s oldest road race the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic is continuing to be a breeding ground for the country’s next rising cycling stars.

And this year will be no different.

This weekend, the men and women respectively will compete in one of the longest classic one day races in the world as riders battle the long distances and brutal conditions to claim one of Australia’s biggest cycling events.

The men will travel from Avalon Airport to Warrnambool in a 267km race while the women will travel from Colac to Warrnambool in a 160km race.

While other events in Victoria in recent years have been impacted by Covid, the Melbourne to Warrnambool hasn’t, with each addition running since 2020.

But event director Karin Jones said the Classic hasn’t come out unscathed.

“We were fortunate we didn’t miss an edition,” she said.

“We have noticed significant differences with entries.

“There’s still a lot of apprehension, not so much from the road series team but certainly for the other grade riders, there is a lot more apprehension to enter and do these events now.

“We have seen a slightly lower entry list (this year).

“We are at around 150 (riders) I believe for the Melbourne to Warrnambool then we have got a stronger women’s field on the Sunday for the second edition of the women’s event.

“We’re pretty excited that the women’s race has increased in numbers.”

Maeve Plouffe won the women's race last year. Photo: Con Chronis

The women’s race, which has been contested since 2015, will be held on a different day for just the second time.

The men’s race has been around since 1895.

Both races will not feature the defending champions after both riders won professional tour contracts following their wins last year.

Men’s winner, New South Wales’ Cameron Scott, is with Team Bahrain Victorious while women’s winner, South Australia’s Maeve Plouffe, signed for Team DSM.

Jones said with the event not involving UCI tour points, teams were hesitant to send their best riders.

Instead, the event is a breeding ground for getting those looking to take their career overseas.

“We’ve worked very hard this year to bring the event back to the week after Cadel (Great Ocean Race) to try and attract a few,” she said.

“It’s so competitive now with teams being relegated and that in the world tour that unless you are actually going to benefit the team by getting points they are reluctant to let their riders stay.

“We are disappointed we can’t get some of those top line riders for sure but there is a very talented list of national road series riders there.

“That is what this race is at the moment.

“All those new World Tour riders in their first year over there have all used Melbourne to Warrnambool performances as the catalyst for them to get their contract.

“I think we should be proud of what we offer.”

Cameron Scott celebrates after last year's win in the men. Photo by Con Chronis

This year riders won’t have to deal with hot temperatures for the race but are expected to face strong winds, which is sure to test the riders on the open road.

“We are in for some windy conditions,” Jones said.

“This year they are going to be challenged and it does set them up for their season ahead.”

The event starts at 8am on Saturday with the women to start at 9.30am on Sunday.

The men on Sunday will race in a criterium around the streets of Warrnambool.

Graeme Frislie is a rider to watch in the upcoming Melbourne to Warrnambool race. Picture: Alan Barber

Here are the top riders to look out for in the race.

Graeme Frislie – Ccache X Par Kup

Frislie won this year’s under-23 national road criterium title and is in good form heading into the Classic. Capable of putting in a good performance if he can make it to Warrnambool and be involved in the finish.

Chloe Hoskins – Roxsolt Liv Sram

One of the leading female competitors for the women’s race. Hoskins should not be racing in this event after having a World Tour ride lined up for this year. But at the last minute her new team folded, which left her without a ride. She’s now on a mission to win this race and attract attention of scouts to earn a ride overseas.

Matilda Raynolds – Lochard Energy

A rider who knows how to win this event. She won in 2020 and 2021 and finished third last year. Expect her to be in contention when the race reaches Warrnambool.

Kane Richards is a national champion. Photo: Scott Powick

Kane Richards – ARA Skip Capital

Won last year’s national road race series with the Sunshine Coast based team. Last year, the team took out the title with Cameron Scott and Richards will be his team’s best hope in 2023.

Myles Stewart – ARA Skip Capital

Finished third at last year’s event and now joins one of Australia’s strongest teams. If the race finishes in a sprint, he is more than capable of taking it out. Stewart finished 12th in the recent criterium national titles in Ballarat.

Nick White – Team BridgeLane

The 2019 winner will lead Team BridgeLane as he looks to win the event for the second time.