Cycling Proves Ginn Tonic

22 October 2009

Rowing champion Drew Ginn will take the next step in his 2012 Olympic dream on Saturday when he competes in the Melbourne-to-Warrnambool cycling classic.

Ginn, who a year ago faced retirement from all sport because of back pain, used cycling as a cross-training tool on his way to three Olympic rowing gold medals.

And such is his desire to carve out a cycling career, Ginn, 34, recently had aerodynamic tests at Monash University's wind tunnel to make sure he is getting the most from his exertions as he eyes a time-trial berth in national colours.

"The Melbourne-to-Warrnambool was a long-term goal I set for myself at the start of the year, so I've been working up to it,'' Ginn said.

"To be honest, I don't know how I'm going to go, but I've done enough kilometres tokeep in the hunt, so if I get down to Warrnambool in the first couple of groups I'll be very happy. There's so much to learn in bike racing and this is just another step for me.''

Ginn will be part of a 200-strong field to contest a revamped course through the Western District.

Working with police to make the course as safe as possible, organisers have altered the race from 299km to 261km.

Riders will start at the Werribee racetrack at 7.30am, then after reaching Stonehaven, head west on the Hamilton Highway before turning south at Lismore, riding through Camperdown and past Lake Bullen Merri before rejoining the Princes Highway before Terang.

The winner is expected on Warrnambool's Raglan Parade about 2pm.

Among Ginn's rivals are defending champion Zak Dempster, who will ride sore after a nasty fall in last week's Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

The Rapha Condor team of British road champion Kristian House, Tom Southam and former Australian road champion Darren Lapthorne is also in the mix.