We are in the middle of the Australian summer and the extreme heat has been leaving its mark on professional cycling. At the Tour Down Under, the Old Willunga Hill was removed from the route last minute due to the extreme risk of wildfires. Now, the Surf Coast Classic has been cancelled for the same reason.
This is due to heightened bushfire risk, rapidly changing and unpredictable weather conditions, the need to keep evacuation routes clear and the requirement for Victoria Police and emergency services resources to remain focused on supporting impacted communities," a statement from the race organizers read.
"Event organizers are currently working closely with emergency services and local authorities to assess conditions and explore alternative options for Thursday 29 January, should it be safe and appropriate to do so. Further updates will be provided once confirmed".
There were both a men's and women's race scheduled for later this week, however none will take place. Strong winds and temperatures of over 30 degrees in the region of Geelong and Torquay - where the race was set to finish - create serious risks that could not be overlooked. The races were set for the 28 and 29 of January but will no longer take place.
Statement from race director
Scott Sunderland, director of the Surf Coast Classic, has issued the following statement in the press release:
“The safety of our riders, teams, staff, volunteers and spectators remains our highest priority.”
“Given the bushfire situation across the region and the advice from Victoria Police and emergency services, the safest and most responsible decision in the conditions is to cancel the races scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.”
“While it’s unfortunate to cancel these two fantastic events, I’d like to acknowledge the CFA, Victoria Police, local authorities and our event partners for their strong collaboration and timely guidance throughout this process.”
“We’ll continue to work closely with emergency services and local authorities on whether it is safe and appropriate to hold an alternative event.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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