The four-day Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race cycling festival will take place exclusively on the iconic Surf Coast in 2020, bringing a major sporting event to regional Victoria with support from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula and Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman today announced that Race Melbourne will move to the Surf Coast, with Towards Zero Race Torquay kicking off the festival next summer.
With the addition of Race Torquay, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will grow from three to four days in the region and will see the best teams and riders from around the world competing on a dynamic course with equal prize money on offer for men and women.
Race Torquay will be complemented by the Family Ride, the mass participation Swisse People’s Ride and Union Cycliste Internationale sanctioned elite races for men and women, showcasing the iconic region to the world.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is the largest cycling event in Victoria and the biggest one-day race outside Europe – this year attracting 120,000 spectators and 3,500 participants in the mass participation ride.
As the highest rating televised Australian women’s and men’s cycling races, the event will broadcast the scenery of Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast to more than 140 countries.
Last year, the Labor Government announced a funding extension for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race for a further three years, supported until at least 2022.
Major events generate economic benefits of around $1.8 billion to Victoria’s economy each year, helping to create more jobs for regional Victorians and keeping local tourism businesses thriving.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will run from 30 January to 2 February 2020. For more information please visit .
Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula
“Race Torquay will make the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race one of the best regional sporting events in Australia, and showcase our beautiful Great Ocean Road region to the world.”
Quote attributable to Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
“Major regional events like Race Torquay are more than just great spectacles – they’re a huge driver of local economies and create jobs for regional Victorians.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020