Surf Coast Classic, formerly known as Race Torquay, returns as appetizer before Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Cycling
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will return to its pre-pandemic format in 2024 with the revival of the midweek races for elite men and women in the build-up to the main events.
The racing gets underway on the evening of Wednesday, January 24 with the women’s Geelong Classic and continues the following day with the men’s 1.1-ranked Surf Coast Classic.
"The mid-week races will be a perfect tune up for the teams and riders ahead of an action-packed weekend of cycling," race director Scott Sunderland said in a statement released on Friday.
Previously known as Race Torquay when it was last held at UCI level in 2020, the Surf Coast Classic for elite men covers 150km route from Lorne to Torquay. Sam Bennett won the 2020 edition in a bunch sprint ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo and Alberto Dainese.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Ah, finally someone willing to be a bit proactive.Jumpyjohn09-11-2026
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- All journalists should start asking the UCI uncomfortable questions, sending inquiries about the interpretation of the rules and the justification of the results. This is the only way to change anything.averagecyclist09-11-2026
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- how else is there to look at things? we are responding to words and pictures, we are not there. your long winded replies make zero sense to anyone. pretty much everyone but you says the same thing. MS was robbed. somehow you think you're so smart to dig beneath the surface and discover something no one else, including the opposing coach and cyclist, saw. lol. you are a tool.mij09-11-2026
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