It has been 108 years since a foreigner has won Australia’s oldest bike race, the Urban St Kilda Austral Wheelrace, but with a strong international presence on the start list for tomorrow’s 112^th edition of the race, the title may be heading off-shore again.

In 1901 American cyclist Bill ‘Plugger’ Martin won the most controversial edition of the race amid claims of the race being fixed by notorious Collingwood bookie John Wren.

This year another American, Giddeon Massie, will be among the contenders.

The 28-year-old is a strong sprinter having represented the USA at the past two Olympic Games but may find the handicap format of the Austral a little difficult where he’ll be riding with a 50 metre head start on the scratch marker, dual Olympic gold medalist Graeme Brown, in his heat.

Making their bid for a win in the Austral, New Zealand will be putting up a number of riders with a strong chance of claiming victory.

Tom Scully, who won the scratch race and madison at the recent Track World Cup in Melbourne, will be riding in the same heat as defending champion Shane Perkins but will have a 50 metre head start in the 2000m handicap race.

At just 19 Scully is one of the most promising young riders to come out of New Zealand and will have some company with compatriot Sam Webster, a triple junior world champion this year, also shaping up as one to watch.

But the biggest challenge for the cast of Australian rising track stars headed up by world points race champion Cameron Meyer and under-23 time trial world champion Jack Bobridge is likely to come from the Malaysian contingent that base themselves in Melbourne.

Leading the challenge from Malaysia will be world championship sprint silver medallist Azizul Awang.

Awang, who has built a reputation for doing a Ryan Bayley style wheelie as he crosses the finish line, has finished a close second in the past two editions of the Austral.

Working against the 21-year-old will be the tough heat he has where he’ll be riding off a 20 metre head start alongside Meyer, with Brown and Glenn O’Shea off scratch and Massie off 50 metres.

The pocket sized sprinter has proven his ability to adapt to the Australian style of handicap racing as has his training partner Josiah Ng, who won the Melbourne Cup on Wheels last year. 

The two Malaysians will be in the same heat with Ng riding off 50 metres.

Other events on the Revolution 5 program include the battle of the sexes keirin where Anna Meares, Kaarle McCulloch and Emily Rosemond will be in action against three under-19 men, plus the men’s sprints, keirins and the always dangerous elimination race.

Revolution 5 (including the 112^th Urban St Kilda Austral Wheelrace)

When: Wednesday 16 December 2009, 7pm

Where: Hisense Arena, Melbourne

Tickets: from Ticketek on 132 849 or at the gate (AAA $49, general admission $25)