Cadel’s race locked in through 2025

THE Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) will return to the Surf Coast in January, with the international cycling festival to slot straight back into the busy events calendar this summer.

The state government announced the Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s races in CEGORR had retained their top WorldTour status from world governing body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and would be held here not only on January 26-29, 2023 but also in 2024 and 2025.

The four-day festival, which was called off due to COVID-19 in 2021 and this year, will feature curtain-raising criterium Race Torquay as well as other public events.

Cyclists of all ages can ride on the same course – which has previously passed through Geelong, Barwon Heads, Torquay and Moriac – as their elite cycling heroes through the People’s Ride.

Since the inaugural event in 2015, which marked Evans’ final professional race, it has been broadcast in more than 140 countries.

The last staging of the event in 2020 attracted more than 120,000 fans, with more than half (57 per cent) travelling from outside the region.

“Council is excited by confirmation that the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race is locked in for the next three years,” Surf Coast Shire general manager of place making and environment Chris Pike said.

“The race generates an estimated $11.2 million in economic benefit across the Surf Coast, Geelong and Bellarine region each year. We look forward to engaging with our business and broader community in the lead-up to the event to make sure it will be the best it can be.

“After the past two years, Council is also excited to have our full calendar of summer events back.

“The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, along with the lead-up Race Torquay, provide our region with international events which are broadcast to an audience of 140-plus countries, creating an invaluable marketing opportunity for our beautiful region.”

He said CEGORR and Race Torquay linked in with the Santos Tour Down Under and the broader UCI calendar.

“While the events occur in January, we see visitor benefits around the year due to the interstate and international promotion they provide.”

Mr Pike said the four-day festival played an important role in helping to promote the broader Great Ocean Road region and support the shire’s objective of increasing overnight visitation.

“I’m so excited that the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will be back in January 2023,” Evans said on Saturday.

“I can’t wait to welcome the world’s elite cyclists and thousands of visitors back to my hometown.”

The 2023-2025 CEGORR events will continue to offer equal prizemoney for elite women and men.

UCI president David Lappartient said the CEGORR races remained part of the UCI’s two leading series of professional road races for men and women – the UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour – which were “reserved for the most prestigious events in the world”.

“Named after one of Australia’s great cyclists, they will provide a wonderful showcase for our sport and our hosts in Victoria.”