'I had no idea what I was in for' – Tracey Gaudry looks back on a crucial moment in Melbourne to Warrnambool history in this 'Wheel Life 3' book extract

Tracey Gaudry who took a leading roll in cycling – including as Oceania Cycling President and as a UCI Vice President –after her racing era, when she was among the early entrants to the list of women who had finished the Melbourne to Warrnambool.

The recently released Wheel Life 3 – Cycling Recollections of the 1990's and 2000's by Ben Schofield delves into many of the tales of Australian cycling through interviews with the key players. As part of the run into International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8, we're sharing an edited extract from the book, looking back on the 1994 edition of the historic Melbourne to Warrnambool race, when Tracey Gaudry added her name to the very short list of women who had completed the race at the time.

Those early finishers, began in 1980 with Beryl Burton and Pauline Walters and that then helped pave the path to the current era. A women's category was introduced to the 270km race in 2015, with Lauretta Hanson winning, and then a stand alone event in 2021, won by Maeve Plouffe. The latest winner is Sophie Edwards, who on Sunday claimed her second victory at the event.