100th Austral Wheel Race, Northcote Velodrome

 1. Shane Hodgkiss (Tas) 	- off the 75 m mark 	2.05.07
 2. Shaun Collins (Vic) 	- off the 90 m mark
 3. Adrian Sansonetti (Vic) 	- off the 100 m mark

Brief

21-year old Shane Hodgkiss, riding off the 75 metre mark in the 2000 m handicap event upstaged the scratchmen (Stephen Pate and Shane Kelly) to win the 100th edition of the Austral Wheelrace, at the 330m Northcote Velodrome in Melbourne. There was a packed audience to see the Tasmanian win by a bike and a half from Shaun Collins (Vic) who started on the 90 metres mark. 100 metre man Adrian Sansonetti (Vic) was third.

The race over 6 laps was a bit of a let down with the scratch riders not getting close. Kelly punctured at the half-way mark. Troy Clarke had worked hard for Kelly and Pate in the first few laps but blew up and failed to make any further impact. Pate, who has won the Austral 3 times, never got close to the sprint bunch. had easily the biggest win of his career at

As the business end of the race began at the bell, Hodgkiss was sitting at third wheel, and as they came round the last bend, he sprinted past the two riders in front and took the sprint easily. He won the trophy and $6000.

The scratch riders (Clarke, Pate and Kelly) were severely disadvantaged with the next riders at 75 m. Pate however had won the Austral a decade ago when he gave 100 m to the next rider and had two other riders to help him. So the 75 metres was not impossible. Hodgkiss, who qualified by winning a second round heat, told officials at the track after the race that he was very strong with 3 laps to go and felt as though a victory was in his grasp.

Glen Hutchinson was the limit man on 170 m.

Next year, if all goes to plan, the velodrome will be given a roof and a board track.