Mads Pedersen is raring to go for Great Ocean Road Race

THE reigning UCI Road World Champion will will test his skills on Geelong’s roads and hills, with Mads Pedersen confirming he is saddling up for Race Torquay in this year’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR).

Pedersen, part of the Trek-Segafredo team, clinched the World Road Race Championship in September.

The Danish cyclist said it would be “super nice” to bring the champion’s rainbow jersey, also won by Cadel Evans in 2009, to Victoria “most of all because it’s white – a black jersey would be super-hot in Australia!”

“So I’m pretty happy to bring a beautiful white jersey for you guys.”

He said he was looking forward to the spectators and the race environment at the 13-kilometre Race Torquay circuit, which has a UCI 1.1. ranking.

“It’s super nice to start that early in the season and people are so excited to see us racing there, so it’s nice for us also to have that feeling.

“Come out, watch us race; there’ll be some good fireworks that day.”

CEGORR has maintained its status not only on the UCI WorldTour but as the second event on the race calendar, a week after the five-day Tour Down Under. Pedersen said this would be a factor for all the UCI WorldTeams taking part.

“People are motivated – it’s one of the first races of the 2020 season for everyone – so people are ready and they all want to do a really good race.”

The sixth edition of CEGORR begins on January 30 with Race Torquay, followed by the Family Ride on January 31, the People’s Ride and Elite Women’s Race on February 1 and the Elite Men’s Race on February 2.

For more information, head to cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au.