World’s Best Arrive In Geelong Ahead Of Cadel Evans Road Race

The world’s top male and female cyclists are arrving in Geelong for this weekend’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race plus the Elite Women’s & Men’s Race Melbourne to be held at Albert Park.

Victoria’s biggest week of cycling launches with Towards Zero Race Melbourne on Thursday 24 January.

The world-class peloton will then descend on Geelong and the Surf Coast for the Deakin University Elite Women’s Race and UCI WorldTour Elite Men’s Race.

Italian champion Elia Viviani looks set to build on his red-hot form at this Sunday’s Elite Men’s race, which features a record 15 UCI WorldTour teams. Viviani is one of the big names to watch, alongside returning champion Jay McCarthy (BORA – hansgrohe), Michael Valgren (Team Dimension Data), Michael Woods (EF Education First) and South African export Daryl Impey (Mitchelton–Scott).

Trek-Segafredo duo Elisa Longo-Borghini and Lotta Lepisto will look to dominate the Deakin University Elite Women’s field, while reigning champ Chloe Hosking (Alé Cipollini), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (CCC-Liv) and Arlenis Sierra (Astanta Women’s Team) will also vie for the crown.

The Deakin University Elite Women’s Race will be contested this Saturday 26 January, before the Elite Men’s event gets underway on Sunday 27 January.

Spectators can watch from the sidelines for through the Geelong and the Surf Coast regions as the action heats up across the picturesque course. Challambra Village is the place to be across the Australia Day weekend to catch all the action as cycling’s elite tackle the famous climb.

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is regarded as one of the leading one-day Classic races outside of Europe and is the opening one-day race of the UCI WorldTour calendar.

Bicycling Australia will have coverage and updates over the duration of the event – stay up to date via our social pages and website.

Thursday 24 January – Towards Zero Race Melbourne

Elite Women’s Criterium

Saturday 26 January

Elite Women’s Race

• Start & finish: Geelong Waterfronto Start time: Geelong Waterfront
• Start time: 12.25pm
• Expected finish time: 3.30pm
• Presentations: 3.45pm
• 2018 winner: Chloe Hosking (Ale Cippolini)o Average speed: 38km/h

Sunday 27 January – UCI Elite Men’s Race (164km)

•  Start & finish: Geelong Waterfront

• Start time: 11.10am

• First time across finish line: 1.55pm

• Second time across finish line: 2.19pm

• Third time across finish line: 2.42pm

• Expected finish time: 3.05pm

• Presentations: 3.15pm

• 2018 winner: Jay McCarthy (BORA-hansgrohe)

• Average speed: 43km/h