Teams revealed for Cadel’s race

THE peloton for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race has been confirmed, with 187 riders from across Australia, Europe and the world set to battle it out on the roads of Geelong and the Surf Coast in less than two weeks.

The return of the 2024 mid-week races will act as the perfect warm-up for the elite men and women before they tackle the one-day races which will once again feature the gruelling Challambra climb and sprint finish.

From stage winners of the Tour de France to one-day classic winners and prestigious international riders, the racing will see just one team and one rider triumph in the respective men’s and women’s weekend races.

Featuring the largest peloton in the Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race history, the 2024 edition will comprise 16 teams, including a record nine UCI Women’s WorldTour teams.

Supported by a strong contingent of Australian riders, previous race winner Amanda Spratt (Lidl – Trek) will be looking to clinch her second title with the support of Brodie Chapman, Lauretta Hanson and incumbent junior time trial world champion Felicity Wilson-Haffenden.

Tour Down Under winner and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Grace Brown will headline for FDJ Suez, while Chloe Dygert, an Olympic silver medallist and time trial world champion, will compete at the event for the first time.

After a stellar performance at the 2024 AusCycling Road National Championships, Ruby Roseman-Gannon (LIV – AlUla – Jayco) is looking to continue her strong start on home soil with maiden wins at both the Geelong Classic and Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race.

UK powerhouse INEOS Grenadiers headlines the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race field, with their start list including nine-time Grand Tour stage winner Elia Viviani and two-time time trial world champion and six-time Giro D’Italia stage winner, Filippo Ganna.

Sprinting king Caleb Ewan will be looking to make his mark at the first WorldTour one-day classic of the season as he returns to Australian outfit Team Jayco AlUla.

Women’s teams in the Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race:

• AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step
• Canyon/SRAM Racing
• FDJ – Suez
• Human Powered Health
• Lidl – Trek
• Liv AlUla Jayco
• Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl
• Team Visma | Lease A Bike
• UAE Team ADQ
• Lifeplus Wahoo
• St Michel – Mavic – Auber93 WE
• Team Coop – Repsol
• Tashkent City Women Professional Cycling Team
• Ara | Skip Capital
• Team Bridgelane WE
• Australian National Team.

Men’s teams in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race:

• Arkéa – B&B Hotels
• Astana Gazaqstan Team
• Cofidis
• EF Education – Easy Post
• Groupama – FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché – Wanty
• Lidl – Trek
• Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl
• Team Jayco AIUula
• Israel – Premier Tech
• Ara | Skip Capital
• Team Bridgelane.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race director Scott Sunderland said it was an exciting field with plenty of opportunity for riders.

“We’ve got riders who are targeting this race specifically and then we’ve got teams who are strong across the board and will have a few objectives for team points and multiple chances for success,” Sunderland said.

“There are teams who have a young line-up where they want to start racing early in the season with a senior member of the team to lead them, and there are others coming with the specific goal of winning this race.”

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race event schedule:

• January 24 – Geelong Classic (Women’s mid-week race)
• January 25 – Surf Coast Classic (Men’s mid-week race)
• January 26 – GeelongPort Family Ride
• January 27 – TAC People’s Ride, Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race
• January 28 –  Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Elite Men’s Race.