The Melbourne to Warrnambool is the second oldest one-day race in the world, with a storied history from starting off as a 300km handicap to the 270km scratch race it is today.

In 2010 at 23 years old, Mark lined up for the Melbourne to Warrnambool and rode to an agonising 2nd place. This result left unfinished business with the event that would see Mark coming back to the event for years to come.

Mark would continue to race throughout Europe, Oceania, & Asia over the next decade, but the Melbourne to Warrnambool would always hold his focus - drawn to the race each year by it's gruelling and attritional nature with some outstanding performances adding to his previous second place result, Mark also claimed 3rd, 4th and 5th place results between 2011 and 2023.

After becoming a father Mark's training volume decreased, however the race results were as strong as they have ever been - including an off-road 2nd place in the 2023 edition of the 246km Dirty Warrny gravel race.

Asking Mark to reflect on this he shares:

“For the past 10 years I have just used electrolyte tablets without carbs as I found having carbs in my drink would upset my gut and make me feel rubbish on the bike. It wasn't until Cam (Sul Nutrition founder) convinced me to drink Sul Nutrition at the Dirty Warrny did I suddenly realise what I had been missing.”

With this breakthrough in on bike fuelling Mark lined up once more for the Melbourne to Warrnambool in February 2024.

“I used 80g per bottle of Sul during the Melbourne to Warrnambool. When I got to the 200k mark I noticed that other riders around me were starting to lose the wheel, where I genuinely felt better than when we had started. I always loved the last hour of the Warny because other riders would tend to fatigue quicker than I did. This year I was able to produce the same power in the last 10k as I would've in the first 10k. It has been a game changer for me.”

Mark joined a solo breakaway rider in the final kilometers of the race before making his final, decisive, race-winning attack. Mark the rode down the finish chute solo, soaking in the atmosphere and achievement that had been a decade in the making. A truly deserving win and one that Sul Nutrition is proud to have played a role.