MEDIA RELEASE: The iconic Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool one-day classic to feature in the inaugural ProVelo Super League season commencing 2025

ProVelo Super League is privileged to announce the inclusion of Australia’s oldest and longest one day road cycling race, the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic and the Lochard Energy Warrnambool Womens Cycling Classic on its program with the men and women set to compete on Feb 8 and 9 respectively.

Entrenched in history as the world second oldest one-day race, an 1895 debut saw participants cycle 267km from Melbourne to Warrnambool, before reversing the direction for the following 42 years. Returning to the original format in 1939, the classic continues to stretch across the same distance of country and coastal Victoria, successfully upholding a 130-year reputation for gruelling length and ruthless crosswinds.  

One of the biggest races for Australian professionals, ‘Melbourne to Warrny’ has served as a critical stepping-stone toward the international stage for Aussies like Simon Gerrans, Cam Scott and Jensen Plowright. As ‘The Road to the World Tour’ for emerging Australian road cyclists, ProVelo Super League is thrilled to be hosting the one-day classic just two weeks after ‘Summer of Cycling’ mainstay event, the Cadel Evan’s Great Ocean Road Race. 

Warrnambool Citizens Road Race Committee Executive Officer Shane Wilson, said “We are delighted to be a part of the ProVelo Super League. It’s exciting to be a part of  this elite cycling league, with the Warrny & Women's Warrny to attract elite fields once again.  Our race is something the Warrnambool community is enormously proud of and we are expecting the 2025 events to be up there with our best ever."

Launching from Avalon Airport, the race moves inland through Colac before reaching the Great Ocean Road at Port Campbell after 195km. This 195km mark is renowned to split the field, as riders become exposed to raw and rugged weather systems hailing from the south. Boasting a history of solo winners, mass sprints and small bunch finishes, Raglan Parade is likely to see another unpredictable finale. 

Matt Wilson, PSL Co-Founder thanked the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool organisers for backing in the vision for the league “To include such a prestigious one-day classic on our season calendar is such a privilege.  Whilst it is exciting to be creating all-new events on our calendar, it very important to us that we honoured the tremendous history of road cycling in this country and there is no better representation of this proud history than the iconic Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool.”

PSL Ambassador, Grace Brown, who made her event debut earlier this year, said “It was awesome to have the opportunity to race the most historic Australian race… what I loved most about the race was the absolute community appreciation for it. I grew up in the South West of Victoria, in Camperdown, so it was really fun to race through the area and have the locals roadside to cheer me on.”

• Visit Melbourne to Warrnambool Event Page