The event was first run in the 1930s, leaving the Wagga Railway Station and travelling via Tarcutta and Holbrook to finish outside the Globe Hotel in Albury.

The first of the modern additions of race was held on 4 June 1986, with 96 entries rolling out from the car park of Tolland Hotel.

In 2010 the Albury Wodonga Cycling Club made the decision to stopping running the race due to the financial costs and other factors.

The race is named in honour of John Woodman, a talented Albury rider who turned professional in 1976, and 1986 join the Sydney base Gitane team.

In more recent times race has started from Jubilee Park on Holbrook Road due to traffic management issues.