British champion Mark Cavendish will ride in next month’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, organisers have announced.
They said the sprint powerhouse would contest the event’s Elite Men’s Race on 31 January.
“I’m looking forward to starting the 2016 season in Victoria and racing for the first time with Team Dimension Data at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race,” Cavendish said.
“I’ve heard great things about the challenging course and I’m especially excited to visit Geelong again.
“Last time I was there was for the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.”
An Olympian, former world champion, Tour de France legend and world class sprinter, 30-year-old Cavendish will race for the first time with his new team after it recently secured a UCI WorldTour licence.
Victorian Sports Minister and Lara MP John Eren was thrilled with the Cavendish announcement.
“Mark Cavendish is without peer. He’s one of world cycling’s all-time greats and he’ll be a major drawcard at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
“We wanted cycling’s biggest names in Victoria and that’s exactly what we’ve got. The top names belong in the state that does the big events best.”
Cavendish will line up alongside two stars of Australian racing, Rohan Dennis and Simon Gerrans.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race has confirmed that a 1.HC Classification Race will feature nine UCI World Tour teams, four UCI Pro Continental teams and the Australian National Team.
The weekend of cycling also includes an Elite Women’s Race and a Momentum Energy People’s Ride, featuring 65km and 111km courses.
