CEGORR champions to return in 2018

THE men’s and women’s champions of this year’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) have announced they will be back to defend their titles in 2018.

Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) will saddle up again as confirmed starters in next year’s CEGORR, alongside 2016 men’s winner Peter Kennaugh (Bora Hansgrohe) and 2016 women’s winner Amanda Spratt (Orica-Scott).

Arndt recorded his fifth professional title in the 2017 edition of the UCI WorldTour Elite Men’s Race after staging an incredible comeback, and described the vctory last week as “the biggest win of my career”.

“It’s very physical, it’s a hard race; it’s the perfect race. I’m training hard already, preparing well and looking forward to getting the chance to defend it,” he said.

He is expecting his elevated reputation in peloton to attract more attention.

“Everyone will make it a bit harder for me (at the 2018 Cadel Road Race),” he said.

“Everyone knows of me more so they will try to attack me. That’s what I expect but, so far, I’m in good shape and I will go for it.”

The Elite Women’s Race has been ranked up to UCI 1.1 classification next year, and van Vleuten will come into the race as the world’s fastest woman in cycling.

The Dutch star became the 2017 World Time Trial Champion in September – 13 months after crashing heavily in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games road race.

“The downs make the ups even more beautiful. (Winning the world title) after crashing in Rio makes the story really special,” she said.

CEGORR race director Scott Sunderland also announced updates to the men’s and women’s road race courses, which pass through Barwon Heads, Torquay and Geelong.

“We will see the 2018 Elite Men tackle the iconic climb, Challambra Crescent, a fourth time, while it will be the first time in the event’s history that the women race over Challambra Crescent,” he said.

“This is going to be an incredible viewing opportunity for spectators as they get to see the riders up close on the hardest climb.

“There’s no hiding on Challambra – and that’s what’s great about it. It just makes everyone give that extra few per cent.”