THE Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic has always been a popular race for Australia's domestic cyclist and usually attracts the best in search of victory.
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This year will be no different as World and National champions and past winners put their hats in the ring to secure victory.
Here are seven riders to watch out for in this year's edition on Saturday.
Nathan Elliott
![Nathan Elliott crossing the finish line in 2017. Picture: Morgan Hancock Nathan Elliott crossing the finish line in 2017. Picture: Morgan Hancock](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc6x3twybf0hx58uqp7jl.jpg/r0_138_3266_1981_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Melbourne-based rider is returning to the Warrny to be the first competitor to win the race three consecutive times.
The 28-year-old will have his InForm TM Insight MAKE teammates around him as he attempts to re-write the Classic's history books on Saturday.
Ayden Toovey
![Ayden Toovey collects the sprint jersey at the 2016 Melbourne to Warrnambool. Ayden Toovey collects the sprint jersey at the 2016 Melbourne to Warrnambool.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/dc5syd-6rxrvrsu8ncp9o612ne.jpg/r0_265_5184_3191_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The New South Wales resident is in hot form after the Herald Sun Tour at the start of February.
The 23-year-old Team BridgeLane member was the only rider to take a classification off powerhouse world tour team Team Sky - winning the sprint classification.
Raph Freienstein
![Raphael Freienstein celebrates his National Road Series victory title he won last month! Picture: Kristy Baker Raphael Freienstein celebrates his National Road Series victory title he won last month! Picture: Kristy Baker](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/sean.hardeman/040ab829-f1bb-44f3-95fe-8be69cc173ac.JPG/r0_45_1202_721_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The second Melbourne InForm TM InSight MAKE is not a rider to be underestimated by the peloton or spectators.
The 27-year-old won the 2018 National Road Series and will be eager to continue his good form.
Nick White
![Nick White celebrates as he crosses the line to claim the under 23 Road National Championships. Picture: John Veage Nick White celebrates as he crosses the line to claim the under 23 Road National Championships. Picture: John Veage](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/sean.hardeman/04fcdc22-47cd-4d12-ab96-8aba0dd80f09.jpg/r0_272_5315_3272_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Ballarat’s new national under-23 road race champion recently debut on the UCI World Tour stage at the at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide.
The 21-year-old has shown he can perform on the big stage and Saturday will be another test.
Rebecca Wiasak
![Rebecca Wiasak stands atop the podium after claiming the national criterium title. Picture: John Veage Rebecca Wiasak stands atop the podium after claiming the national criterium title. Picture: John Veage](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc73hmshr9lw4eictyen4.jpg/r0_47_5315_3047_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A two time world champion on the track was dropped from the Cycling Australia High Performance Team last year.
But she has turned on the form on the road and the 34-year-old Canberra resident recently won the women's national criterium title for the second year in a row.
Peta Mullens
![Peta Mullens puts in the work at the front of the 2019 criterium road nationals in Buninyong. Picture: Cycling Australia Peta Mullens puts in the work at the front of the 2019 criterium road nationals in Buninyong. Picture: Cycling Australia](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/sean.hardeman/ad13412e-f39e-4509-b912-e0704031e8a0.jpg/r0_272_5315_3272_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The versatile Bendigo resident will be a force across most of the race.
The 30-year-old former road and track national champion will lead the young Roxsolt women's team.
Sarah Gigante
![Sarah GIGANTE celebrates a win as she crosses the finish line during the U23 and Elite Women's Road Race. Picture: Dylan Burns Sarah GIGANTE celebrates a win as she crosses the finish line during the U23 and Elite Women's Road Race. Picture: Dylan Burns](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc73iki13qr3aepfhdgif.jpg/r0_183_3588_2208_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The 18-year-old rising star of Australian Women's Cycling is one you can't afford to take your eyes off.
Gigante, who also rides in team Roxsolt, is fresh of surprising the cycling world with victory in the Road Nats in Buninyong.
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