SOME of the world’s elite cyclists would cruise the Great Ocean Road this summer in an inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons announced today.
Cr Lyons said the race was a natural fit for the Geelong region.
“The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will provide a testing course for the world’s best cyclists while showcasing the beautiful Geelong region to an international audience,” Cr Lyons said.
“In 2010 Geelong delivered the first UCI Road World Championships to be held in Australia and this proved to be a massive success. The 2010 UCI Road World Championships delivered an economic benefit to Geelong of $45.5 million and reached an international television audience of $186.8 million.
“Geelong’s landscape, infrastructure and lifestyle make our region a natural fit for cycling.
“One of the factors that has made cycling such a major sport in the television age is the stunning images the broadcasters capture of the host cities and hinterlands.
“Geelong and the Great Ocean Road will make for extraordinary television and this will be compounded by the worldwide interest in our local cycling hero Cadel Evans.”
Cr Lyons said he and deputy mayor Cr Bruce Harwood met Evans in December to discuss the event.
“It is very fulfilling to be able to join Cadel and the Premier today to formally announce this major new international cycling event.
“Cadel Evans lives in Barwon Heads and spends the summer training on our local coastal roads – just as many thousands of amateur cyclists do.
“The success of Cadel Evans has contributed enormously to the popularity of cycling in Australia and having Cadel’s stamp on the Geelong race adds enormous prestige to the event.”
Organisers expect the two-day cycling event to attract some of the world’s elite cycling teams and create a festival-like atmosphere the region.
The annual event is tentatively scheduled for January or early February for an initial three-year period.
It will include elite men’s and women’s road races and mass-participation ride for people of all ages and abilities.
