2016 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

  

After the hugely successful inaugural event in 2015 the 2016 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will return to the Geelong region on the weekend of 30th – 31st of January 2016 in what promises to be an incredible weekend of cycling action.

Like the 2015 event the 2016 event is expected to bring the cream of international cycling to our roads and streets. The route through taking in some of our region’s most breathtaking sights will remain unchanged for the event, making for a ride with challenges and thrills similar to many of the European spring classic races.
There will be three major parts to the 2016 event starting with the Momentum Energy Peopl’s Ride on the Saturday. This event is expected to attract cycling enthusiasts of all abilities on a 115 KM loop and a shorter 68 KM circuit. Some of the world’s finest riders including the Geelong region’s own Cadel Evans are expected to join the ride alongside the hundreds of public. The rides will both start and finish on Geelong’s magnificent waterfront, with the longer race taking in Barwon Heads, Torquay and Moriac, while the longer race takes in Barwon Heads.

The elite women’s race will see cyclists ride for 113 kilometres with the Geelong Waterfront being the start and finish of the race. The race will travel to Barwon Heads, then travel along the 13th Beach coastline to Torquay. After riding part of the Great Ocean Road the ride will turn inland onto Forest Road just after Bells Beach and head towards Moriac and back into central Geelong through Barrabool Road.

The elite Men’s race has a similar course to the women’s taking in Barwon Heads, 13th Beach, Torquay and Moriac and Barrabool Road. The race’s distance is 174 kilometres and the Geelong aspect of the race differs to the women’s race. The men will need to complete three laps around the city’ outskirts for what will make a thrilling conclusion to the race. The riders will ride up Yarra Street, then Moorabool to Barrabool Road then follow the river to the Hamilton Highway and McCurdy Road before turning into Church Street and meeting the Geelong Waterfront at Gelnleith Avenue before the sprint home to near Steampacket Gardens.

The 2015 race saw thousands of people line the course around the region and tens of thousands flock to the waterfront to see the incredible action at the end of the race. It is expected this year things will be even bigger.

A huge expo and presentation centre will be set up on Steampacket Gardens with a great carnival atmosphere. As well as a huge international lineup of cyclists and the chance to attract thousands of tourists to our region for the race there will also be hundreds of media personnel from around the globe beaming the action and sights of Geelong to a huge television audience around the world.