Melbourne GP   

While no longer one of the most prestigious races on the Australian road racing calendar, the Melbourne GP has its charms, especially for fledgling pro teams looking to make their mark in OCM Division 10.

With its mostly flat terrain, this race through one of the country's most populous cities is one for the sprinters.

Beginning at the busy Tullamarine Airport, which serves both international and domestic fli...

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While no longer one of the most prestigious races on the Australian road racing calendar, the Melbourne GP has its charms, especially for fledgling pro teams looking to make their mark in OCM Division 10.

With its mostly flat terrain, this race through one of the country's most populous cities is one for the sprinters.

Beginning at the busy Tullamarine Airport, which serves both international and domestic flights and is situated 23km away from the city centre, the riders set off on a northeast route that takes them through the suburbs of Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn, Epping and South Morang.

Although several large hills can be spied in the distance to the north, many which offer prime views of Melbourne, the race then takes a sharp turn southward down Plenty Road.

The nice flat ride continues along the Metropolitan Ring Road before they take a turn into High Street, which is a major arterial road running from Epping to Westgarth. There are many retail outlets lining this thoroughfare, especially as they enter Northcote, but there will be no time for shopping just yet as riders get a chance to race the number 86 tram which services this route.

High Street gives way to the famed Lygon Street, where anyone on a bicycle will have to do their best to dodge both pasta chefs and Ferraris parked liberally along this Italian district.

Melbourne city centre's towering office buildings will now no doubt be in sight as the riders coast past the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building.

Swanston Street, which cuts right through the heart of the CBD, is normally only accessible to trams and foot traffic but will have been cordoned off on this day as our intrepid cyclists race down its length and shoot out the other end, passing the iconic Flinders Street Station (opened in 1854) and crossing the Yarra River (where gold was discovered to kick off the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s).

Our final destination is the Albert Park circuit, home to the Formula 1 Melbourne Grand Prix. Here, the peloton will do two laps of the lake before the sprinters earn their stripes with a mad dash for glory down pit lane.