The Victorian Government is pleased to announce that the hugely successful Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race has received 1.HC classification from cycling’s international federation the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The increased status was confirmed at the UCI Management Committee meeting at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.

The Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, welcomed this exciting announcement.

“It is a tribute to the success of the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and is a vote of confidence from cycling’s world governing body that the event has been granted 1.HC Classification in its second year.

“We look forward to hosting even more UCI WorldTour teams and introducing some of the world’s best cyclists to one of the most spectacular courses in world cycling,” Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events John Eren said.

The 1.HC classification complements the events broader strategy to bring the world’s best cycling teams to Australia and entitles up to 14 UCI WorldTour teams to compete in the race, an increase from eight in 2015.

1.HC classification is just one category below UCI WorldTour, which is the highest level possible in world cycling.

Cadel Evans’ former team BMC Racing and Australia’s own ORICA-GreenEDGE are two of the UCI WorldTour teams confirmed to experience some of the most beautiful and iconic areas of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.

In 2016, Cadel will be riding in the Momentum Energy People’s Ride, so participants will have the opportunity to ride shoulder-to-shoulder with the Australian icon himself.