Record WorldTour line-up signs up for Cadel’s race

RECORD 15 UCI WorldTour teams have been confirmed for next month’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR), including leading British outfit Team Sky.

The 2019 field is the strongest in the event’s five-year history, three larger than the 12 WorldTour teams that competed in 2018.

Team Sky headlines the 2019 line-up, which includes Australian team Mitchelton-SCOTT and race debutants Astana and UAE Team Emirates. The Australian National Team rounds out the elite field of 16 teams.

Australian cyclist Jay McCarthy, will set out to defend his 2018 crown with German team BORA-hansgrohe.

McCarthy said he had fond memories of winning in Geelong earlier this year, including celebrating the victory with his “support team” of relatives and friends that had travelled from across Australia.

CEGORR is the opening one-day race of the UCI WorldTour calendar and is now regarded in some circles as one of the better non-European one-day classic races.

Evans has said previously that he is happy a different kind of rider has won each of the four previous events, and McCarthy said he would not be surprised if the Tour de France winner changed the race in some way in 2019 to continue the trend.

“I’ve excited to see what Cadel’s got in store for us this time.”

Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula, said the men’s line-up strengthened Victoria’s position as Australia’s cycling and sporting capital.

“This is further evidence that the ‘Summer of Cycling’ brings the best teams from across the globe to race in Victoria, showcasing Melbourne and our beautiful regions to the world.

“We will have the best of the best here in Victoria, strengthening our position as Australia’s cycling and sporting capital.”

In the women’s race, 11 international teams have been confirmed for the UCI 1.1 event, including Australian powerhouse Mitchelton-SCOTT.

International teams Trek-Segafredo, Astana Women’s Team, Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport, Swapit Agolico and Rally Cycling will compete in CEGORR for the first time.

Reigning champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Australia’s Chloe Hosking, will return to defend her crown with Italian cycling team Ale Cipollini.