The self-declared “Mayor of King Island” broke free of two-time defending champion Brett Robinson in the final three kilometres of prestigious road race to write his name into its history books as the first Tasmanian man to take home the title.

“This is huge for me,’’ the 22-year-old former Ballarat Clarendon College student said.

“Ever since I was a kid it was the one race I had always heard about, and with King Island part of the North-West, it is the biggest race going around for us.

“I had always wanted to compete in it, and over the last few years I did really decide I wanted to win it as no Tasmanian had. That was certainly a goal of mine and one I am glad I have been able to tick off as it is something I have been thinking about for a long time.”

McSweyn and Robinson have also each spent time running with and representing Eureka Athletic Club in Ballarat.