THE historic Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic has a new location for its start on 27 October – Sanctuary Lakes Resort.

Some of the most decorated Victorian competitors of the gruelling “Warrnambool” – at 300 kilometres, the longest one-day bike race in the world – gathered at Sanctuary Lakes last week to celebrate the event.

They included Bill Dove, 78, the oldest living winner of the classic; Ian Hay, 77, who holds the record for the most starts (40, finishing 19); John Grima, 66, who holds the record for the most finishes (34); John O’Sullivan, 74, a Melbourne Olympian; and Terry Hammond, 45, who clocked the fastest time in the 1983 and 1985 races.

They proudly displayed their original bikes on which they raced to their individual glory.

With a history that dates back more than 100 years – the first race was held in 1895 – the classic is a test of pedal-power and downright guts.

Organisers have had difficulty in the past finding the best place to start the race to allow the riders a clear route to get an early edge on the field.

It used to be raced straight down the Princes Highway, through Geelong and Colac, but today’s traffic levels make that too dangerous.

Eleven years ago, it began in the Bourke St Mall, but the riders complained their wheels got caught in the tram tracks.

It was shifted to The Strand, Williamstown, but the field found that stopping for trains at level crossings caused the field to bunch up again.

Now the classic has found a new starting place at Sanctuary Lakes.

Race director John Craven said: “The resort is an impressive and safe location and the atmosphere at the start will be tremendous.

“The Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic is an Australian sporting institution and Sanctuary Lakes will now become part of that history.”