Cadel's race throttles up with Mercedes-Benz partnership

THE Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) will have some serious power driving its logistical support this year, announcing this week that Mercedes-Benz would be the race’s official vehicle partner.

The marque will provide a fleet of C Class and CLA Class vehicles to all visiting teams and support crews.

Event founder Cadel Evans welcomed the partnership, and said the commitment took CEGORR – Australia’s only UCI WorldTour certified one-day ride – to exciting new heights.

Cadel Evans near Bells Beach, which is again part of the route of this year’s rides. Photo: ANDY ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY

“To run a successful WorldTour event, the dependency on vehicles is surprisingly high so we are absolutely delighted Mercedes Benz has come on board to support us,” he said.

Race director Scott Sunderland will be driving a red C200 to carry out his duties in the Elite Women’s Road Race on January 28 and the Elite Men’s Road Race on January 29.

“Organising major events like the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race has big demands, and it’s incredibly reassuring having such a renowned, proven and prestigious brand in your corner,” Mr Sunderland said.

In the Elite Men’s Road Race, defending champion Dries Devenyns will try for back-to-back titles in this year’s edition.

Devenyns claimed the win in 2020 in a sprint showdown with Frenchman Pavel Sivakov from Team Ineos.

He will again line up for UCI WorldTour team Soudal Quick-Step, which is the only team to have won CEGORR multiple times since its inception.

The versatile 39-year-old assisted Remco Evenepoel to his maiden Grand Tour win at the Vuelta a España.

Devenyns is eyeing off a return to the same podium that presented him with his his maiden one-day title and first UCI win since stage victories in the 2016 Tour of Belgium and Tour de Wallonie.

“I’m really happy to be back in Australia and looking forward to racing the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – I’ve missed it the past two years!” Devenyns said.

“Of course I’ll do my best to defend my title, though there’s bigger names on the start list with more potential to win the event. It’s true, I’m rather old and experienced, did the race on multiple occasions, but every race can unfold differently than expected.”

Dries Devenyns (right) salutes as he wins the 2020 Elite Men’s Road Road at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Photo: JAMES TAYLOR

Denenyns is the only former Elite Men’s Road Race winner on the starting list.

In the Elite Women’s Road Race, former winners Chloe Hosking (2018), Amanda Spratt (2016) and inaugural champ Rachel Neylan (2015) have all confirmed their spots.

Leading Australian cyclists Michael Matthews and Alex Manly will ride for the Australian-based UCI WorldTour team Jayco AlUla in their respective Elite Men’s and Women’s squads.

Matthews is one of Australia’s most decorated cyclists, winning four stages of the Tour De France; multiple stages of the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España; four WorldTour one-day classics and three road race medals at the UCI World Championships.

“I always have great memories returning to Geelong after winning the Under 23 UCI Road World Championships back in 2010. It’s a special place for me to race,” he said.

Manly has moved to 23 in the UCI World Rankings after a big 2022, including winning four of six stages and overall honours at the 2022 Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour in Germany.

“I’m really excited to be able to race at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, it’s been a while since I last raced there and it was sad that the race wasn’t able to go ahead the last couple of years,” she said.

For more information, head to cadelroadrace.com