Teams locked in for return of Cadel's race

THE stage is set for this weekend’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR), with the teams and riders in the Elite Men’s Race and Elite Women’s Race locked in.

Returning after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the races will be the second events and the first one-day rides on the 2023 UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The action starts tonight (Friday, January 27) with the Family Ride at the Geelong Waterfront, featuring a short course along The Esplanade for riders of all ages and abilities.

2023 Tour Down Under champion Jay Vine. Photo: UAE TEAM EMIRATES

Tomorrow (Saturday, January 28) from 7am, hundreds of recreational riders will take on the same course as the pros in the People’s Ride, which (like the two professional rides) will be run in reverse compared to 2020, with Moriac first and Barwon Heads last.

This will be followed by the Elite Women’s Race from 12.20pm, featuring 143km of unpredictable action as riders negotiate scenic roads, rolling hills, technical corners and pinchy climbs.

Grace Brown had a breakout 2022 season on the world stage and will be keen to claim her first Elite Women’s Race in front of Australian fans following her triumph at the Tour Down Under.

Previous winners Chloe Hosking and Amanda Spratt are also in contention to be the first rider to lift the Elite Women’s Race trophy twice.

The teams in the UCI Women’s WorldTour race, with six riders each, are:

EF Education – Tibco – SVB (USA)
FDJ-Suez (France)
Human Powered Health (USA)
Israel Premier Tech Roland (Switzerland)
Team Jayco Alula (Australia)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
Team Coop – Hitech Products (Norway)
St Michel–Mavic–Auber93 (France)
Zaaf Cycling team (France)
Team Bridgelane (Australia)
ARA | Skip Capital (Australia), and
Australian national team (Australia).

On Sunday, January 29, the Elite Men’s Road Race from 11.10am will see Giro de Italia winner Jai Hindley, four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, 2020 CEGORR winner Dries Devenyns and the recently crowned winner of Tour Down Under Jay Vine all saddling up, assuring there will be tight, tough racing for the entire 176km course.

Race strategy is set to be a key focus across the peloton, as teams work out how to set their riders up for success and manage the change in direction of the course.

The teams in the UCI WorldTour Elite Men’s Road Race, with seven riders each, are:

G2R Citroen Team (France)
Bora – Hansgrohe (Germany)
EF Education – Easypost (USA)
Ineos Grenadiers (Great Britain)
Intermarche – Circus – Wanty (Belgium)
Soudal Quick-step (Belgium)
Team Arkea – Samsic Ark (France)
Team Jayco Alula (Australia)
Team DSM (Netherlands)
Trek – Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
Israel- Premier Tech (Israel)
Bolten Equities – Black Spoke (New Zealand)
Australian National Team (Australia).

Alex Mandy from Team Jayco Alula is one of the top Australian prospects in the Elite Women’s Ride. Photo: SUPPLIED

CEGORR is just part of the big weekend of events in the Geelong region, with the Festival of Sails also expected to draw thousands of visitors to the Geelong Waterfront.The Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s riders have been familiarising themselves with the local attractions this week.

Some of them took part in a celebrity pro-am sailing event at Royal Geelong Yacht Club on Tuesday, with the cyclists teaming up with local sailing talent, including International Cadet Class of Australia national championship winner Evie McDonald.

For more information, head to cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au