THE Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race looks set to attract more of the world’s best cycling teams when the event returns in 2016.
Dates for next year’s races will be Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31
Two UCI world teams have confirmed they will line up for the event — Evans’ former team BMC Racing and Orica GreenEDGE — with more likely to confirm in the coming months.
The Men’s Road Race, Elite Women’s Race and the Momentum Energy People’s Ride, will travel through some of the most beautiful and iconic areas of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula and surf coast, including some of Evans’ favourite riding routes.
The route for the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Elite races remains unchanged. This year’s races showed it as a challenging and authentic one-day course that allows an attacking style of race, synonymous with the European spring classics.
The race is set to start on Geelong’s waterfront, travel through Cadel Evans’ home town of Barwon Heads, Thirteenth Beach, Torquay, Bells Beach, Moriac and then culminate with a dramatic finish on Geelong’s waterfront.
A crowd of around 100,000 spectators lined Geelong’s streets and the Surf Coast circuit last year, cheering on some of the world’s top riders, and paying tribute to Evans – the 2011 Tour de France winner. Channel Seven broadcast the race nationally, showcasing the Great Ocean Road region to viewers from all over Australia and a further 106 countries.
Having officially retired from competitive cycling following the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in 2015, in 2016, Cadel will join cycling enthusiasts in the Momentum Energy People’s Ride.
“I’m really thrilled that this year’s inaugural event was so well received,” Evans said,
“And delighted that now in my retirement, I’ll be able to join in the excitement of the very popular Momentum Energy People’s Ride. I’d encourage riders to register quickly to ensure they secure a place in this fantastic event.”
The Elite Men’s Road Race has now secured ‘in principle’ support for 1.HC classification from the UCI, one level below UCI WorldTour, a significant achievement in only the event’s second year.
UCI Oceania vice president Tracey Gaudry said she was delighted to see the impact that the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race had for cycling in Australia.
“The contribution Cadel Evans has made to Australian cycling cannot be under-estimated and I am pleased that the UCI has awarded the event an in-principle 1.HC classification as part of our commitment to growing the profile, appeal and participation in cycling worldwide.”
Sport, Tourism and Major Events Minister John Eren said this year’s event had been a huge success for Victoria and the local region, attracting some of the world’s best riders and cycling teams to the State.
“The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race gives Victorians and our guests from interstate and abroad a chance to pay tribute to a national sporting icon, and an unprecedented opportunity to ride the renowned circuit themselves.“
“This region is one of the most picturesque settings in world cycling. This is our chance to showcase our natural strengths to the world.“
