All the rabbits are coming out of their burrows

pic by Mike Dugdale of race in Geelong.from w
Today it's the big Bike race in Geelong - UCI World Championship race from Melbourne to Geelong, then round and round and round the local circuit for several hours. Well, lots of the bunnies have come out of their burrows today to watch from various great vantage points in the city or in the suburbs, down by Queen's Park Bridge, in Highton, Belmont etc. It's a beautiful day and, oh sobosobo, we are watching on Channel Ten TV instead of getting out there standing amidst the crowds for several hours. Actually Geelong comes up looking good with the views taken from helicopters and everywhere else. Very green, clean, no hoardings needed here to cover up the slums. All looking good. I think there are three more hours to go though!

frm Geelong Advertiser reporters: Geelong at stunning best for UCI Road World Championships
October 3rd, 2010
Geelong has turned on its brilliant best weather as thousands line city streets for today's Mens Road Race in the 2010 UCI Road World Championships. Thousands of local residents are mixing with international tourists throughout Geelong's streets, basking in ideal 20 degree weather as the world's best riders loop the city. This morning's race started in Melbourne and arrived in Geelong shortly after noon.

The race narrowly avoided disaster with a five-member break-away group coming within minutes of lapping the peloton, which features all of the pre-race favourites.

Australia's hopes of winning a gold medal rest with a strong nine-man contingent headed by Barwon Heads local and defending champion Cadel Evans.

Today's race caps off a massive week of cycling which has seen Geelong broadcast live to 400 million viewers on televisions around the world. Organisers were hopeful of crowds of up to 300,000 people in Geelong throughout the week, with the majority of that number expected today.

Some of the biggest crowds are in Moorabool St, Queen's Park, Eastern Beach and at the top of the gruelling climb in Challambra Dve, Highton.

In response, the city has produced its most beautiful weather in months with a top temperature of 24 degrees expected.

The race is expected to finish sometime between 4pm and 5pm.