Cycling Classic launches countdown to New Year’s Day start

THE countdown to the Citroën Bay Cycling Classic is underway following the event’s official launch on Geelong Waterfront.

Guests gathered at Novotel Geelong earlier this week to hear from organisers, sponsors, and athletes ahead of the January 1-3 race in central Geelong.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Georgia Baker, 2022 National Road Race Champion Lucas Plapp, broadcaster Matt Keenan, racers Brett Lancaster, Brenton Jones and race director John Trevorrow all provided an update on what to expect at the “world’s fastest criterium races”.

For Jones, however, the three-day race event will mark the final time he suits up in competitive cycling.

“This race has always been a huge part of my life,” Mr Jones said at the launch.

“I was here helping my Mum move barricades as a young kid, she has been the event director for a long time, and I got the chance to watch my heroes racing around these exact circuits and it was really inspirational.

“I have had a terrific journey in cycling, not only winning here in 2014 but racing in Europe including Paris-Roubaix and also winning the National Criterium title, so I am very happy and this would be the perfect swan-song if I can get one of my team mates on the top step of the Citroën Bay Crits.

“I think it might be an emotional moment for the family to go through that whole journey and have me finish my selected career on Ritchie Boulevard on the 3rd of January.”

The Bay Crits has been a familiar sight in Victoria since its inaugural event in 1989, beginning a movement for road racing in the summer that has led to events such as the National Championships, the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Road Races all taking place in summer.

Race director and cycling legend John Trevorrow said it was hard to believe the January event will be Bay Crits’ 34th classic.

“I can remember the first Bay Crits held over in Sorrento where it poured rain the whole day while we were setting up,” Mr Trevorrow said.

“There are so many wonderful memories from this event.

“Robbie McEwen of course called this the fastest criterium in the world, there are no criteriums as quick as this, and we’ve stuck with that ever since.

More than 200 cyclists will compete in the men’s and women’s elite Criterium and support events, with the series to be contested in four divisions, including juniors.

Only twice in the previous 26 years has the race been won before the last day.

The Bay Crits has featured a Tour de France winner, five Yellow Jersey wearers, two Tour de France Green (Sprinters) Jersey winners and eight Tour de France stage winners.