ELEVEN National Road Series teams are confirmed starters in the newest addition to the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
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Ninety-three NRS riders will form part of the 114-strong elite men's field contesting the first Lady Bay Middle Island Criteriums around a 1.6-kilometre course on Warrnambool's Viaduct Road.
ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast, Avalon Airport, Butterfields - Insurance Advisernet Van D'am Racing, Team CCS Canberra, Gpm Stulz, InForm TM Insight MAKE, Raceatlas, Subaru-Giant Racing, Oliver's Real Food Racing and Team BridgeLane will race on Sunday.
Event director Karin Jones is pleased teams have committed to the criterium and are planning to stay overnight in Warrnambool after Saturday's 267-kilometre classic.
"We wanted to ensure that teams participating were staying overnight to have a local economic impact so that we can show that the return for the event is viable," she said.
"From my point of view it's overwhelming to see them support the event and have them support the cycling weekend.
"It (the entries) was actually much more than I thought and I am happy to see the riders supporting the race."
More than 130 riders across the elite men, elite women, women support, masters and male support classes signed up for the fast-paced criterium on Sunday.
Jones was excited to see what would unfold.
"Even after the Saturday race they will have tired legs but it'll still be very competitive racing," she said.
"Once they are on the race track they are racing to win and it will be fast and furious."
The Melbourne to Warrnambool has again pulled together a strong field with 193 riders to set off from Avalon on Saturday.
Eleven women - including 2019 finishers Taryn Heather, Kirsty Deacon and Madeline Wright - will join the men in the gruelling race.
More than 100 riders have entered Saturday's Royal Bikes Port Campbell to Warrnambool Handicap - the other new addition to the weekend of cycling.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
