Female cyclists enjoy another Welcome Wave

THE world’s best female cyclists gathered in Jan Juc yesterday (Thursday, January 30) evening to enjoy another Welcome Wave event as part of this year’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR).

The eighth edition of the event, held annually by the Surf Coast Shire to celebrate the Elite Women’s teams in the UCI Women’s WorldTour event, was held at the Jan Juc SLSC clubrooms.

After a Welcome to Country ceremony, attendees got up close and personal with some native Australian animals provided by Wildlife Exposure, took part in an Australian rules handball competition, and enjoyed a barbecue dinner that saw race founder Cadel Evans and race ambassador Grace Brown get behind the hot plate at times.

CEGORR race director Scott Sunderland said the women’s field was “simply world-class”.

“We’ve got riders and teams who are competing in all the biggest races around the world, all the biggest classics, all the biggest tours, so I think we’re definitely joined by cycling royalty and sporting royalty.”

Surf Coast Shire mayor Mike Bodsworth said the women’s races in CEGORR were a great example of success, power, speed, health and fitness for young women in the community.

“It’s so important to have that positive role modelling and to show people they can engage in a world sport and and engage in the pursuit of cycling, which people all around the world love.”

The female riders have already been in action in this year’s CEGORR – in the women’s Surf Coast Classic between Lorne and Torquay on Wednesday – and will race again in the Elite Women’s Ride tomorrow (Saturday, February 1).