Entering its 10th year in 2025, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is more than a WorldTour event. It’s an opportunity for Australian cyclists to experience the kind of scenes you’d only expect to see in Europe, right here on the roads of Geelong and the Surf Coast that Cadel calls home. The Australian cycling legend joins us for a loop of the TAC People’s Ride route ahead of the 2025 event.
Words: Nick Squillari Photography: Ben Lehner
It’s not often you’re able to pen a love letter to your home roads. Visitors bemoan the cutting wind, despise the ninja-like squalls of rain, and despair at the dead streets. But those elements, they’re a feature, not a bugbear. This is the Surf Coast, in all its rough-cut beauty. You can count the traffic lights on one hand, and the windless days on the other.
Roll out on the ‘wrong’ day and you’ll barely see the waves through the mist and rain. Or get roasted by the sun, wishing you’d spent less time in its company.
Even with all that, there’s no place I ride that feels more like an old pair of slippers. A two-hour slog into the wind – with a return in half the time. Check the surf. Spit out some sand. Question if I’ve worn too much, or too little.
I moved away from the coast in 2017. Only an hour ‘up the road’ to Melbourne. Not far as the crow flies, but it may as well be another country. A chicken parmi suddenly identified as a ‘parma’; the riding, a world apart. My long hours spent a stone’s throw from the rugged coast were now a fading memory. I was, like the pros who came for the 2010 UCI Road World Championship, one who was now always looking for a reason to get back down south.
It was this sentiment, of real opportunity for an annual pro race in the region, that the Victorian Government recognised after the success of the 2010 Worlds. And by a stroke of good fortune, they happened to have a legend of cycling – and an adopted local – about to retire. Cadel Evans detonated the field in the 2010 World Champs up Challambra Crescent. Who better to name a race after than arguably Australia’s most decorated rider?
Not that Cadel was especially sold on being the name of the race. ‘I mean, sure. I would prefer if you didn’t, but if it is what helps make the race happen, then I’m for it,’ he confides that he told them at the time. Plus, it’s not like it’s a move outside of what pro cycling has known prior. Many other greats of the road have a race named after them. GP Miguel Indurain. The Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, to name but a few.
All preceded the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR), and all are still in full flow. There might not yet be an Aussie pope, but we have at least matched the Euros with a pro race named after one of our greats.
A standalone race, however, was never the sole goal. Adding a participation fondo ride paired perfectly both with that, and with Cadel’s desire to do what he could to help broaden the appeal and reach of road cycling in Oz. Ride the same roads the pros were about to cover. Tackle Challambra and Melville Road.
Us regular folk don’t get a chance for a hit on Rod Laver Arena or a kick on the MCG, but the beauty of cycling is you can ride the same roads as the pros – as fast or slow as you like. And so, as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race enters its 10th year, Cyclist felt it was time to take the race’s namesake out for another lap of it. After all, Cadel is one of us now – just with a slightly larger trophy cabinet.
Home sweet home
John ‘Iffy’ Trevorrow is responsible for a lot of good things in Australian cycling, and the founder and director of the Bay Crits can add being the reason behind Cadel Evans buying – and soon planning to settle – in Barwon Heads. ‘I was in Geelong to race the Bay Crits,’ he explains. ‘It was a training ride with a bunch, led by Pat Jonker, that took us through Barwon Heads. I thought, “I could live here.”’ A few years later, the opportunity came up to purchase a property. Cadel duly accepted, and so began his off-season residency on the Surf Coast. Many a local can now attest to spotting him at any point from Thirteenth Beach to Apollo Bay.
We discuss all of this as we approach Barwon Heads from our waterfront starting point in Geelong. Today, we’re following the route of the TAC People’s Ride, aka the Cadel Classic – a 124km course that runs on Saturday morning of the CEGORR weekend, before the Women’s Road Race later that afternoon and the Men’s Road Race on Sunday. The atmosphere is electric, and you’ll be riding on the very same traffic-free roads just moments before the pros do.
Of course, the route only gets better from here. As a many-time participant of the TAC People’s Ride myself, your greatest challenge at the start is battling for a coffee and through the wheels. Once caffeinated and safely on your way down Barwon Heads Road, through town (blink and you’ll miss it) you’re on to Thirteenth Beach. The coast begins, and it’s definitely still fresh. Jackets remain on for both of us, and Cadel is in knee warmers, proving once again that it’s always pro to overdress.
Come the 1st of February though, I wouldn’t be as concerned about the temperature as much as the wind. From Barwon Heads until you’re past Bells Beach, you’re riding primarily west to south-west. And wouldn’t you know it, the prevailing wind of the region is from the west. If the legs are feeling a million dollars up until this point and you’re starting to think it’s been a tail wind down to the coast, well, get ready for a substantial bit of work back into it. What the ride might lack in vertical gain it goes a fair way to making up for with ‘south coast hills’: read, headwind.
Not a spruce tree in sight
The push down the coast takes your past Breamlea, a quaint, ‘retire here’ (actual retire, not the cycling kind) vibe of town, and into Torquay. This is the town whose claim to fame is being both the birthplace of Rip Curl and the start of what was a truly momentous year for Biniam Girmay in 2024. The Surf Coast Classic runs as a warm-up race three days before the Great Ocean Road Race, finishing on the Torquay waterfront.
With a shoreline that is unmistakably Australian, Torquay is a great food stop too. Replenishment with a view – it’s not hard to appreciate why the town is booming. It’s the gateway to the Surf Coast, the unofficial start of the Great Ocean Road and, for our purposes, the official start of the climbs. Any vert the TAC People’s Ride dishes up is backloaded. From Torquay on, there’s a lot less flat road riding.
After the run down past the Torquay Caravan Park, there’s a Strava segment called ‘Get me out of Torquay’. How a rider ever felt so entrapped by the town still escapes my comprehension. Especially when the escape leads you directly into the first of the ascents.
Ironically, it was the climb past Jan Juc earlier this year, during the TAC People’s Ride, that my partner and I had Cadel catch up with our group as he floated his way through the field. Ten months later and I’m on the same climb, chasing the same man. Cadel may not be in Tour de France-winning form anymore, but the man is still in ripping shape. I’m doing my level best not to sound like I’m gasping for air.
Come the peak (or what appears to be), there’s no respite. A left-hand turn off the Great Ocean Road and onto the Bells Boulevard rollers. Heading towards the ocean, it’s like a rollercoaster meets an interval session. Down. Punch up. Down. Back on the pedals up. We take the opportunity to admire Bells Beach and its lack of spruce trees (‘Point Break fans will get the reference’). If you’re pouring it into the pedals this could pass you by, but if not, I highly recommend pulling over for just a moment.
The carpark after the main Bells Beach turn off is a life hack. Better views, less traffic, and simply an all-round better appreciation for what is not only a surf sanctuary, but also a location known worldwide. Sure this ride – any fondo, for that matter – is about a challenge. But it does feel a little empty, especially for first-timers to the region, to come this close to a marvel of where nature and sport collide and not take a few moments to really drink it in.
Into the hinterland
Out and away from Bells Beach, there’s a brief spell on the Great Ocean Road, then we’re on to the farm roads and heading north. This is where the course has varied a little over its 10 years. There are a few ways to make it back to Moriac, and god knows I’ve ridden them all over the years. That comes in handy as Cadel takes a turn and starts heading towards Anglesea when we need to turn right. He blames jetlag, but it may well be that autopilot has kicked in and he’s back to a time when most rides would head straight down the Great Ocean Road.
Back on course, and lovers of hills will be pleased to hear there are more rollers on the menu. Addiscot, Gundrys and Vickerys Roads are all up and down like a Victorian weather forecast. Before long, we’re passing through Paraparap and along a stretch of road known locally as ‘Misery Lane’. If the wind has any west in it, the origin of the name quickly becomes self-evident.
Moriac is the third and final stop for sustenance. The aid station is well-stocked, as is the Moriac General Store. We pull up for a coffee, only to find more than a few Saturday morning bunches have beaten us to it. It’s always a solid sign when locals have pegged your cafe as worthy of a mid-ride stop. Little did they know Australian cycling royalty would soon be breezing past their latte and carrot cake. Cadel, as always, is gracious with all who ask for a photo, including the thrilled store owners Glenn, Hayley, Aaron and Lauren.
Pushing out of town, it’s farmland as far as the eye can see for the next 25km. Open. No shelter. I very much doubt it will be a calm day. Fingers crossed your bunch knows which way to roll with the wind, otherwise it can be slow going as you head back towards Geelong and the finishing circuit. The climb up to the quaint little town of Ceres is also one that I once spotted Cadel doing reps up in years past. It’s ideal for Vo2 efforts. I hope your bunch isn’t drilling it that hard come the big day.
The final boss
It’s a rapid descent from Ceres, along Barrabool Road, and into Geelong. The militant magpie that ruled with an iron beak – swooping you coming up and even going down Barrabool (not bad at 60km/h) – doesn’t bother us today. Relief. Down we swoop through Highton, and before we know it, we’re on Challambra Crescent.
I’ll be honest: even as someone who lived barely a kilometre from this road for years, I rarely ever chose to ride it. I tend not to be a fan of roads that seemingly have no top and all you can see is the sky. How Philippe Gilbert (a team-mate of Cadel, for those keeping score) big-ringed it at the 2010 Worlds Road Race is beyond me. Pros, eh?
The suffering does end, eventually. Your reward? About 20 seconds to grab your breath before a plunge back down to Queens Park and on to what is Challambra-lite. Melville Avenue is the punch to the face you really don’t want or need. It may, technically, be over and done with quicker than Challambra, but damn if it’s not enough to have any rider consider if walking is faster. I recall someone getting up there in 2014 (or 2015, don’t quote me) with a sausage sandwich in his mouth.
Breathing through his ears, I suppose. Us mere mortals need oxygen from every source to make it over. Once there though, you’re done. Six more kilometres and you’re back at the Geelong Waterfront and crossing the line. Done and dusted.
More than just a ride
It’s fair to assume that nearly all who take part in the TAC People’s Ride have either been to the Tour Down Under or know what the Tour Down Under is about. It’s now a two-week experience that, for me at least, is just so draining that I can only consider it every second year.
The CEGORR is different. What fans get here is a more relaxed, extra-long weekend opportunity from Wednesday to Sunday. Cadel and the management team behind the race are all cycling fans. They know how much a great vibe around an event can mean to all involved: pros, fans who ride, non-riding fans and sponsors. You’ve got the freedom to choose to stay in Geelong or anywhere along the coast, with all major parts of the main race – or the Surf Coast Classic – easily within riding distance.
These are races where stars of the future are often stepping up. Girmay, Laurence Pithie, Sofia Bertizzolo and Rosita Reijnhout were the four winners in 2024, and all went on to have great – if not stellar – seasons. One Grace Brown even started her rise to stardom in the 2017 women’s edition of the Great Ocean Road Race. There’s a long history of future stars announcing themselves on this stage, and the fact it’s attainable and family-friendly for the average rider to attend is just so good for Australian cycling.
I say all this as a self-confessed home-town boy. Yeah, the pros pillage Strava KOMs, but they also bring an undeniable energy and presence to Geelong and the region. And that’s all spearheaded by Cadel. The entire coast spends half the year in love with footy, but at the end of each January, it remembers that it’s also home to roads that are perfect for racing bikes. To some truly iconic Australian vistas. And to a route that twists and turns with no clear end in sight: beautiful, surprising and sometimes daunting, but absolutely worth every kilometre.
It all makes for what is one of the more enjoyable race weekends and one of the most well-attended fondo rides in Australia. I have a pile of riding mates who live locally, and they still sign up every year. The TAC People’s Ride is their Grand Final day. Surely there’s no higher honour a participation ride could hope to achieve.
The TAC People’s Ride route
Scan the QR code to see the route in full. The TAC People’s Ride, aka the Cadel Classic, starts at the Geelong Waterfront near Steampacket Gardens. Make your way along the waterfront before turning south at Limeburners, left at Ryrie and right onto Boundary. Then, it’s a right at Fellmongers until you hit Barwon Heads Road, which you’ll follow all the way out of town to the coast. Roll through Barwon Heads via Golf Links Road, Bridge Road and Ewing Blyth Drive before the road curves right and becomes Thirteenth Beach Road, past its namesake beach. A right at Black Rock Road, a left at Bluestone School Road, a left again at Breamlea Road, a right at Blackgate Road and a left at Horseshoe Bend Road brings you to the seaside town of Torquay. Follow that all the way south to The Esplanade roundabout and turn right, which takes you through Torquay and links you up briefly with the Great Ocean Road around Jan Juc.
This is where the climbing begins. A left turn onto Bells Boulevard, left on Bones Road, right on Bells Beach Road, which becomes Jarosite Road – it hits more than 7% here – then turn inland up Addiscott, left on Gundrys and right onto Vickerys. The ascent is steady for the next 30km – go left on Hendy Main Road, past the town of Moriac (see more in our breakout on page 56), left on Cape Otway Road and right on Considines Road, which becomes Barrabool Road and takes you all the way back to Geelong. You’ll snake your way through suburban Geelong at this point, including the famous, leg-burning climb of Challambra Crescent, before finishing back at the Waterfront.
Take a break in Moriac
While the pro race has had a few course changes over the years, one constant has been passing through Moriac, a tiny (but growing) town between the Surf Coast and Geelong. A country hub that, many years ago, I managed to dribble my way to on one of my first attempts at a 100km ride. Utterly spent. A Coke would have been my salvation, but there was nothing. The store was closed. There was also a western-style tumbleweed bouncing along the street.
Fast forward 15 years and sure, while the potholes around the train line haven’t changed, the general store is not only open, but it’s also had a bit of a glow-up. Still sporting a country charm vibe, it’s now also home to some verydrinkable coffee. The food (and carrot cake) are tip-top. The owners even informed us that a new chef is on the way soon to expand the menu.
These delicious developments may be a decade and a half too late to save me, but it does have the Moriac General Store ideally placed for that coffee ride from Geelong the day after the TAC People’s Ride. Or as a late ride refuel on a coastal loop (along the coast to Lorne, over Benwerrin then Cape Otway Road back to Geelong).
Cadel’s top rides in the Great Ocean Road region
The TAC People’s Ride really only scratches the surface of what’s on offer for cyclists in the wider Great Ocean Road area. As a local expert, we asked Cadel to share his five favourite rides – road, gravel and more – in this stunning part of our country.
Cadel’s favourite road ride
‘My favourite road ride is from Barwon Heads through all the Surf Coast towns of Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne and finishing at Apollo Bay. All of the Great Ocean Road is beautiful though, and the further you go, the more spectacular it gets.’
Cadel’s favourite climb
‘As part of my off-season training I used to regularly focus around the Lorne region and do repeat efforts at one or more of Teddy’s Lookout, Benwerrin or ‘the Falls’. Everyone used to think I was crazy doing repeats there but it definitely helped me achieve the results I was looking for.’
Cadel’s favourite gravel ride
‘Gravel is an easy one – Anglesea Heath is gravel paradise. There’s something for everyone there and it’s a great place to start your gravel journey.’Cadel’s favourite MTB ride‘Again, Anglesea Heath is expansive without being too technical. For “real” mountain biking, Eumeralla Scout Camp is the place to challenge yourself.’
Cadel’s favourite coffee shop ride
‘My favourite coffee shop ride is veering into the beautiful and much underrated Surf Coast hinterland, which offers the perfect rural contrast to the coast as well as sensational mid-ride coffee and a toastie at the Moriac General Store.
A decade of Cadel’s Race
Entering its 10th year in 2025, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is an exhilarating multi-day cycling event that celebrates both elite competition and community participation. Co-founded by Australian cycling legend Cadel Evans, this premier event debuted in 2015, shortly after his historic Tour de France victory. Set against the stunning backdrop of Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast, it attracts the world’s best cyclists and over 140,000 enthusiastic spectators each year.
This race isn’t just for the pros. It’s a festival for everyone. Thousands of amateur cyclists join the fun via the TAC People’s Ride and Family Ride, fostering a spirit of inclusivity. The event promotes key messages like road safety, gender equality and health, making it a true celebration of community values.
It also brings a European flair to Australian cycling as the race lifts local neighbourhoods into lively hubs of excitement and camaraderie. Residents transform their houses, streets and local parks for the event. Broadcast nationwide on the Seven Network, it captivates audiences far beyond Geelong and Victoria.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is much more than a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling that brings together fans, families, and tourists for an unforgettable experience.
2025 Race Schedule
› Monday 27 January Teams arrive in Geelong
› Wednesday 29 January Surf Coast Classic – Women’s
› Thursday 30 January Surf Coast Classic – Men’s
› Friday 31 January Geelong Port Family Ride
› Saturday 1 February (Morning) TAC People’s Ride
› Saturday 1 February (Afternoon) Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women’s
› Sunday 2 February Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Men’s
