Locals are set for a cycling spectacle this month with world-class riders confirming for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Two-time Paris-Nice winner and Australia’s leading Grand Tour contender Richie Porte will spearhead Evans’ former team, BMC Racing.
Porte, who rode in the inaugural addition of the race, was excited to make his return after missing out last year.
“The Great Ocean Road presents challenges and a unique style of racing, which will make this competition exciting for both the riders and fans,” Porte said.
Porte will ride in the same field as Swiss star Danilo Wyss and newly crowned Australian national champion Miles Scotson.
All eyes will be on Scotson after he won the recent Cycling Australia Road National Championships in just the first week of his professional career.
The 174km UCI Elite WorldTour race will be a fierce contest when Team Sky (GBR) sets out to defend the title claimed by Peter Kennaugh in 2016.
Classics specialists Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe will add firepower for a strong team which boasts three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
Big names lining up from Orica-Scott including Lombardia winner, Esteban Chaves, Caleb Ewen and Australia’s leading one-day rider and dual national champion Simon Gerrans.
Gerran hopes to continue his strong start to the 2017 season, after he broke a collar bone in last year’s Tour de France.
“It’s not often I get the chance to race a one-day race in Australia, so I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
“I also like the circuit of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, it’s one that can suit a rider like myself, so it should be a great race.”
Defending champion Amada Spratt and Katrin Garfoot for Orica-Scott will set out to reclaim the Deakin University elite women’s team classifcation, while German rider Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-Sram) will be one to watch.
Riders will follow one of the most spectacular courses in international cycling, starting at Geelong’s waterfront, passing through Evans’ home town Barwon Heads, Bells Beach and Moriac.
The closing stages can expect to see riders hit almost 85km/h as the peloton reaches Queens Park during the last weekend of January.
For the Elite Men, three testing laps of the city will sap the legs before the waterfront finish line beckons.
