Melbourne's Skilled Bay Cycling Classic will again be the platform
for most of Australia’s leading road riders to launch themselves into
another demanding international season.
Flying Start Cycling, with the co-operation of Victorian Major Events,
Australia's major facilitator of world class sporting events, will
significantly upgrade the staging of the long established Skilled Bay
Cycling Classic.
The Skilled series has attracted the cream of Australian cyclists including
Stuart O'Grady, Brett Aitken, Robbie McEwen, Scott Sunderland, David
McKenzie, Jamie Drew, Bayden Cooke, Tom Leaper, Jay Sweet, Graeme Brown and
Cadel Evans plus the full Australian Institute road squad together with
many internationals including Tour de France stage winner Sweden’s
Magnus Backstedt. Once again we will be staging an international standard
women's event featuring Anna Wilson and most of Australia's top female road
racers.
At a time when Australia's cycling reputation is at an all time high in one
of the world's highest profile sports, the 2001 series will offer the
public and corporate Australia a smorgasbord of world class cycling.
The five-day men's and women's 'Skilled Bay Classic' features criterium
racing at different Victorian locations. It is the highest level of
criterium racing in Australia and its status attracts the cream
of Australia's racers and some of the best international riders.
Essentially, promoting this series prior to the staging of the 'Tour
Down Under' now provides Australia with a world class cycling calendar in
the European off-season. It gives us for the first time, a genuine chance to
help take Australian cycling to a new level of professionalism that will
showcase all that's exciting about one of the world's most dynamic and
truly international sports.
It also represents our best opportunity to bring the cream of the world's
professional road circuit to this country in greater numbers than ever,
particularly via the Skilled Melbourne Sorrento Cup which will be held over
one of the most spectacular courses anywhere in the world. It promises to
provide cycling with a world class location ideal for international
television distribution.
SKILLED BAY CYCLING CLASSIC 2001
LOCATION
Williamstown
Torquay
Apollo Bay
Geelong
Crown Casino
DATE
January 3rd
January 4th
January 5th
January 6th
January 7th
