THE men\u2019s and women\u2019s champions of this year\u2019s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) have announced they will be back to defend their titles in 2018.<\/p>\n
Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) will saddle up again as confirmed starters in next year\u2019s CEGORR, alongside 2016 men\u2019s winner Peter Kennaugh (Bora Hansgrohe) and 2016 women\u2019s winner Amanda Spratt (Orica-Scott).<\/p>\n
Arndt recorded his fifth professional title in the 2017 edition of the UCI WorldTour Elite Men\u2019s Race after staging an incredible comeback, and described the vctory last week as \u201cthe biggest win of my career\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very physical, it\u2019s a hard race; it\u2019s the perfect race. I\u2019m training hard already, preparing well and looking forward to getting the chance to defend it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He is expecting his elevated reputation in peloton to attract more attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone will make it a bit harder for me (at the 2018 Cadel Road Race),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows of me more so they will try to attack me. That\u2019s what I expect but, so far, I\u2019m in good shape and I will go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Elite Women\u2019s Race has been ranked up to UCI 1.1 classification next year, and van Vleuten will come into the race as the world\u2019s fastest woman in cycling.<\/p>\n
The Dutch star became the 2017 World Time Trial Champion in September \u2013 13 months after crashing heavily in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games road race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe downs make the ups even more beautiful. (Winning the world title) after crashing in Rio makes the story really special,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
CEGORR race director Scott Sunderland also announced updates to the men\u2019s and women\u2019s road race courses, which pass through Barwon Heads, Torquay and Geelong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will see the 2018 Elite Men tackle the iconic climb, Challambra Crescent, a fourth time, while it will be the first time in the event\u2019s history that the women race over Challambra Crescent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to be an incredible viewing opportunity for spectators as they get to see the riders up close on the hardest climb.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no hiding on Challambra \u2013 and that\u2019s what\u2019s great about it. It just makes everyone give that extra few per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE men\u2019s and women\u2019s champions of this year\u2019s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) have announced they will be back to defend their titles in 2018. Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) will saddle up again as confirmed starters in next year\u2019s CEGORR, alongside 2016 men\u2019s winner Peter Kennaugh (Bora Hansgrohe) […]<\/p>\n