Family Ride cancelled

THE Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Vegemite Family Ride, scheduled to take place today, has been cancelled due to extreme heat.

With temperatures expected to reach 44 degrees, race organisers deemed it too great a health and safety risk to have the event go ahead.

Despite the ride’s cancellation, the Event Village at Steampacket Gardens will still open at 4pm, and the Swisse People’s Ride marquee will be open at the same time for rider pack collections.

Saturday’s People’s Ride and Elite Women’s Race is expected to go ahead as normal, as is Sunday’s Elite Men’s Race.

Today is also a Total Fire Ban Day for the Central and South-west districts in Victoria, with the Fire Danger Rating assessed as “Severe”.