Melbourne to Warrnambool
Cycling Classic 2015
OCTOBER 17
17 October 2018
MCGEE’S ONE REGRET
BY ROD MORRIS
WITH the 100th running of the Lakes Oil Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic done and dusted, a select group of 200 enthusiasts gathered to pay homage to the race’s history on Saturday.
A packed auditorium at Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre on Saturday night featured an array of former champions and not just from the “Warrny.”
Former Australian Cyclist-of-the-Year and the first Australian to wear the leader’s jersey in all three of world’s cycling Grand Tours, the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana, Brad McGee, OAM was the guest speaker where he made an admission of regret from his cycling career.
“I grew up in Paramatta and heard about this great race south of the border called the Melbourne to Warrnambool,” McGee said.
“Whilst I had success in Australia and overseas, both on the track and the road, I never got around to actually racing in the “Warrny” and today was actually the first time I have followed it.”
“The atmosphere was absolutely sensational and I applaud everyone involved in running the race.”
“It has a great history, its tradition is impeccable and I’m sure the current committee, which are the custodians for the event’s future are on the right track to ensure its future,” he said.
Geelong based sports promoter, John Craven, who is also a 20-year long member of the Warrnambool Citizen’s Road Race Committee was also in attendance and used the occasion to highlight his recently launched history book on the event, “The Warrnambool.”
Craven, along with long serving race commentator, Lyndsay Hill were invited to interview a number of former Melbourne to Warrnambool race winners, who were feted at the dinner.
That list included Bill Dove (1965), Lance Wearne (1996), Lytton Sedley (1972), Jamie Drew (1999 & 2002), Tim Decker (2007), Joel Pearson (2009 & 2011) and the only three time champion, Peter “Bulldog” Besanko (1984, 1989 & 1992).
Also in attendance were John Hine and Wayne Hildred, who – in 1980 - won and recorded fastest time respectively.
Hildred made a successful return to the “Warrny” on Saturday, finishing the 278.6km as the D Grade winner.
Decker, along with Hildred and defending champion Oliver Kent-Spark were the only three former winners in Saturday’s field of almost 300 riders.
In his post-race interview, Decker expressed his disappointment in the slow pace being set by some of the more fancied team registered riders.
“I made a comment to one of them to get up the front of the race, quicken the tempo and show the event the respect it deserves,” Decker said.
His comments were met by a thunderous round of applause.
A surprise for the dinner guests was the unveiling a sterling silverware tea service, an engraved trophy from the 1912 Melbourne to Warrnambool, an event which never went ahead and was therefore never presented.
The Dunlop Rubber Company, which had for many years promoted the Warrnambool to Melbourne race refused to continue sponsorship in August of 1912 after ongoing differences between the League of Victorian Wheelmen, the Interclub Cycling Association and the Victorian Cyclo Traders Association could not be settled.
The relative sporting organisations had been arguing on who had control of road racing in Victoria.
With World War I looming, the Melbourne to Warrnambool race went in abeyance until 1922.
World War II also cost seven editions of the “Warrny” but its future now looks better than ever.
The silver trophy was located in Queensland and purchased by the Warrnambool Historical Society.
And in a trophy presentation, the annual Bert Glennon Award went to renowned Melbourne based barrister Vince Peters, who served on the race committee for many years.
The award, named in honour of a late life member of the committee was instigated in 2006 and acknowledges individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the classic.
Winners of the Bert Glennon Award include –
2006 Val Bertrand OAM
2007 Gus Hyland
2008 Ryans Transport
2009 State Emergency Service
2010 Lyndsay Hill
2011 ACE Radio 3YB
2012 John Craven
2013 John Sanderson
2014 The Warrnambool Standard
2015 Vince Peters
Saturday’s race was penultimate event on Cycling Australia’s 2015 Subaru National Road Series calendar with only the Grafton to Inverell (October 24) to complete the program.
For web access to the 2015 Melbourne to Warrnambool results follow this link:
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Melbourne to Warrnambool
Cycling Classic 2015
OCTOBER 17
ROD MORRIS
Caribou Publications
0401-760-912
KIPP KAUFMANN
Cycling Victoria
0430-303-577