A welcome wave for women cyclists

People have a rare opportunity to see world-class athletes up-close at the coming Welcome Wave event, which will celebrate female riders in the 2018 Deakin University Elite Women’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

The January 24 event will feature a Wadawurrung Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, building anticipation for the 2018 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR), to be held across the region from January 27-28.

The Welcome Wave is a free event and an ideal chance for the Surf Coast community to greet the world’s best female international riders coming to the famous Great Ocean Road region to race.

The Welcome Wave will start on the hill next to Torquay Surf Life Saving Club at 5.30pm, with all people encouraged to attend.

Surf Coast councillor Margot Smith – an avid cyclist who will participate in the CEGORR People’s Ride on January 27 along with Cr Heather Wellington – is pleased to again host athletes from all over the world.

“We’re excited to involve the community in welcoming the riders, through the Welcome Wave event,” Cr Smith said.

“We invite the whole community to mingle with the cyclists at the ceremony and get involved in the lead-up to a fantastic major event for our local economy.

“As a council, we want to celebrate the achievements of women in sport and this is a great way to do so.”

Each Welcome Wave attendee will receive a Cadel Bell to ring in the cyclists.

The bells can also be used over the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race weekend at official Cheer Sites, listed at cheercadeltorquay.com.

Following the public Welcome Wave event, a dinner for the athletes will be held at RACV Torquay Resort.

Acclaimed cyclist Dr Bridie O’Donnell has been announced as the special guest speaker.

Dr O’Donnell is most notably a 2016 UCI World Hour record-holder, but also boasts titles such as manager of the Rush Women’s team for four consecutive years and, as of November 2017, the Head of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.

She is also a breast care physician and a sought-after medical expert, frequently appearing on Channel 10 program The Project.

For more information on the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, head to cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au.