WATCH the Melbourne to Warrnambool men's race, Saturday from 11:30am (AEDT) LIVE via / SBS Cycling Central Facebook, while Sunday's coverage of the women's race starts at 10:30am (AEDT) LIVE via SBS On Demand / SBS Cycling Central Facebook.
For the first time in the Classic’s storied 127-year history, the event will include the first standalone women's race - with their course spanning 160 kilometres and offering riders a race like no other.
Beginning in Colac, the peloton will be tested almost instantly on its tough terrain, before embarking on a run towards the coast that could encourage teams with numbers to make their move.
Several small climbs near the Warrnambool finish will serve as the last chance any contenders will have to attack, and Sarah Gigante could be one of them.
The Movistar rider is hoping to make her long-awaited return to competition in Victoria, having missed out on last weekend’s Tour of Gippsland after testing positive to COVID-19.
Gigante hasn’t raced since the Olympic Games last July when a worrying heart condition - later revealed to be myopericarditis - left her sidelined for the remainder of 2021.
She had hoped to use the National Road Series events as practice for her European endeavours later this season and, as a result, will likely experiment with an aggressive, solo approach to proceedings on Sunday.
Georgie Howe - backed by Kate Perry and Lisa Jacob - is one of the main contenders standing in Gigante’s way, as is Australian national road race champion Nicole Frain (Roxsolt Liv SRAM).
Howe enters the race full of confidence from her overall success in Gippsland, with her Stage 2 victory providing perfect practice for what's to come in the Classic.
Frain, too, enters the race in form and hopes her performance can cap off a successful summer with a professional deal overseas.
Inform TMX Make star Matilda Raynolds will also fancy her chances of making the podium, much like Amber Pate, who has shown she can sprint, climb, and time trial to equal effect.
A two-time winner, when women previously raced in the men's event, Raynolds knows what it takes to get the job done and will benefit from the extra 100 kilometres she'll no longer have to account for.
Meanwhile, James Whelan of Team Bridgelane is the favourite for the men’s race, having won the Festival of Cycling in South Australia and trailed only Luke Plapp at the Road Nationals.
Whelan’s squad is one of the strongest set to suit up for the men's 267-kilometre course and boasts former Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Nick White in their ranks for good measure.
ARA-Pro Racing Sunshine Coast’s Cameron Scott is another rider many believe will overcome the headwinds and challenge for the podium, with Brenton Jones (Inform TMX Make) not too far away.
Scott took home two stage wins in Gippsland just a few days ago in what was a stellar team performance aided by overall winner Kane Richards and the ever-impressive Angus Lyons.
The track and road star will be central to his side's plans once again at the Classic and will be very hard to beat if a group approaches the finish line.
The 170-strong peloton will kick things off from Avalon Airport this Saturday, and SBS On Demand / SBS Cycling Central Facebook will have all the action LIVE from 11:30am (AEDT).
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How to watch cycling live on SBS
Melbourne to Warrnambool Men's Race
Saturday, February 19
11:30 - 15:00 (AEDT)
Men's race broadcast via livestream on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page
Highlights to be shown on SBS Cycling Central and SBS On Demand
Melbourne to Warrnambool Women's Race
Sunday, February 20
10:30 - 13:00 (AEDT)
Women's race broadcast via livestream on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page
Highlights to be shown on SBS Cycling Central and SBS On Demand
