Via Cycling Victoria press release

Nathan Elliott (IsoWhey Sports Swiss Wellness) made history as the first man to win back-to-back Melbourne to Warrnambools (sponsored by Anchor Point) with one of the bravest and most daring rides in the 102-year history of the race.

Elliott was part of a six-rider breakaway from the outset of the 277km course, despite a lead of more than five minutes, he was brought back by the two significant climbs at Camperdown with 65km remaining.

The 26-year-old was part of every breakaway attempt for the next 50km before he threw it all on the line and attacked with 6km remaining.

After Elliott held off the efforts of NSW Institute of Sport’s Tom Robinson (finishing fourth), he held off the peloton to defeat WA Olympian Sam Welsford and Tommy Nankervis (Stitch and Dart) by two seconds in a time of 6:34.23.

“I really went for it at the 2km, dug deep, and gee, it was hard those last 300m up the hill and into a head wind,” Elliott said.

“But I wanted it so bad. I knew nobody had gone back-to-back in this great race and when I had it in my grasp I certainly wasn’t going to die wondering _ I just gave it everything I had,” the physically exhausted and mentally sapped Victorian said.

Congratulations @n_sumo23 history making ride. #M2W17 pic.twitter.com/ltpVgOXWuU

— Karin Jones (@KarinJones64) October 14, 2017

In sunny and warm conditions with thousands cheering him home, Elliott was able to sit up and raise his hands in the last 50m to savour the historic moment of being the first to win this 102 year old Australian classic in back-to-back editions.

Elliott crashed and did not finish at his first attempt at the race three years ago, and now has gone on to win his next two. He has had a tough season after starting out with being hit head on by an out of control vehicle at the beginning of the year.

Runner-up Welsford almost caused one of the great upsets. He is the current world champion in the teams pursuit and the Olympic silver medallist at Rio.

“It was a great experience and good to show that track riders can be competitive in these really tough road races,” he said.

Welsford said he “wanted to have a crack at his legendary race” and was pleasantly surprised to be right in the finish.

“The two mountain climbs were really tough for big guys like me but when I re-joined the peleton and it became obvious it would be a sprint home I was rapt.”

The dash to the finish was marred when 20 riders at the head of the peleton crashed just 150m out.

Anchor Point #M2W17 podium.
1st: @n_sumo23
2nd: @sam_welsford
3rd: Tommy Nankervis
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— Cycling Victoria (@cyclingvictoria) October 14, 2017

Bruce Clarke won the race in 1971 and 1973, David Allan in 1976, 1979 and 1982, Peter Besanko in 1989 and 1992, Jamie Drew in 1999 and 2002 and Joel Pearson in 2009 and 2011, but no cyclist has won back-to-back.

NSW Institute of Sport’s Ryan Cavanagh also was a star of the day.

He won three of the four sprints to become the Midlands Meats Sprint Champion, and he also won the McCarthy Catering 200km championship. To boot, he won the Scody King of the Mountain award.

Photo Gallery

Results – Anchor Point Melbourne to Warrnambool 2017

• Average speed of the winner: 42.1 km/h
• Number of starters: 115
• Riders abandoning the race: 14

Result: B Grade

• Average speed of the winner: 42.1 km/h
• Number of starters: 25
• Riders abandoning the race: 3

Result: C Grade

• Average speed of the winner: 40.0 km/h
• Number of starters: 24
• Riders abandoning the race: 6

Result: D Grade

• Average speed of the winner: 37.0 km/h
• Number of starters: 6
• Riders abandoning the race: 5

Result: Women

• Average speed of the winner: 36.2 km/h
• Number of starters: 6
• Riders abandoning the race: 5

Scody King of the Mountain #1

Scody King of the Mountain #2

Midfields Meats Sprint #1

Midfields Meats Sprint #2

Midfields Meats Sprint #3

Midfields Meats Sprint #4

Midfield Meats First Warnambool Rider

McCarthy Catering Male 200km Championship

McCarthy Catering Female 200km Championship