Arlenis Sierra saddles up for back-to-back wins in Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

CUBAN cyclist Arlenis Sierra says it’s an honour to return to Geelong and the Surf Coast as she sets out to defend her crown in the 2020 Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race.

The 27-year-old claimed a comprehensive victory in the 2019 race and confirmed exclusively to Times News Group that she will set out to achieve back-to-back titles in 2020 as part of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

No rider, male or female, has won the event multiple times in its five-year history.

“For me, it’s a big honour to be back in 2020 as defending champion,” she said.

“The race has also been promoted to the UCI Women’s WorldTour so it is another great reason to return to Australia, I don’t want to miss the show.

“I have great memories from January’s race, because it was my first time in Australia and I didn’t know what to expect.

“I found Australia to be a beautiful country; it’s a very well organised race, spectacular routes and a lot a people cheering us on the streets. It was really nice racing in an event with such a fantastic atmosphere.”

The race will join the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar in 2020, becoming the first event in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.

“I think the UCI Women’s WorldTour status will considerably raise the profile of the race,” Sierra said.

“I’m sure a lot of bigger teams and great champions will want to begin their season in Australia, so it will be definitely much harder to repeat the victory.”

The 27-year-old Cuban will also compete in the precursor to the Elite Women’s race, the Towards Zero Race Torquay.

Sierra was first to cross the line in the 2019 edition ahead of Mitchelton-SCOTT pair Lucy Kennedy and Amanda Spratt.

A long-time supporter of equal opportunity for riders across the two elite races, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will offer equal prize money for both the Elite Men’s and Women’s races, as well as for Towards Zero Race Torquay.

The Elite Women’s Road Race on February 1 will be part of an exciting weekend of cycling, alongside Towards Zero Race Torquay, the Family Ride, People’s Ride and the Elite Men’s Race.

To register for the Family Ride or People’s Ride, head to cadelroadrace.com.