…And that’s a wrap!

What an unforgettable week of racing, riding, and community spirit at the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, with 150,000 spectators filling Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Bellarine across the week!

The modified event week began on Thursday with Cadel’s Criterium, a high-speed replacement for the cancelled Surf Coast Classic. Fans lined Eastern Gardens as the world’s best lit up a technical two-kilometre course.

Martina Fidanza (Team Visma–Lease a Bike) dominated the Women’s race in an uphill sprint, while Sam Welsford (INEOS Grenadiers) powered to victory in the Men’s event from a daring breakaway that held off the peloton.

In a remarkable act of generosity, every team agreed to donate all Cadel’s Criterium prize money to Surf Coast communities affected by recent severe weather. Visit Victoria and the Surf Coast community extends its deepest thanks for this incredible show of support and solidarity.

Friday brought the colour and joy of the GeelongPort Family Ride as one thousand children and Cadel Evans himself filled the waterfront in a celebration of cycling for all abilities and ages.

On Saturday morning just under 3,000 riders rolled out for the iconic TAC People’s Ride. A wave of yellow jerseys swept across the region as participants took on the 63km and 124km courses, capturing the heart and soul of this community-driven weekend.

Then came a moment of true sporting history.

On Saturday afternoon, New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston (FDJ–SUEZ) became the first-ever back-to-back champion of the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women. After 142.4km of dynamic racing, from an early solo move to crashes, regroupings, and two explosive climbs up Challambra, Wollaston unleashed a superb sprint to claim victory ahead of Great Britain’s Josie Nelson (Team Picnic PostNL) and Spain’s Mireia Benito (AG Insurance–Soudal Team).

On Sunday, Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) stormed to victory in the 2026 Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Men, winning a brilliant bunch sprint along a packed Geelong waterfront. He out-powered Matthew Brennan (Team Visma–Lease a Bike) and rising Australian talent Brady Gilmore (NSN Cycling Team) in a fast-finishing elite group of 17.

Andresen earned his spot in the winning group after surviving four punishing ascents of Challambra in the 186.1km race. A former Surf Coast Classic champion, he showed power, precision and perfect timing to secure his second major win of 2026.

The field delivered emotion and spectacle at every turn, including a warm tribute to retiring Australian legend Simon Clarke (NSN Cycling Team), honoured by the peloton in the opening moments of the last race of his distinguished career.

From family rides to community celebrations, from criterium fireworks to world-class WorldTour battles, and with thousands of people joining the action, this has been a truly exceptional week showcasing the very best of cycling, Geelong, and the Surf Coast.

What a week. What a community. What a ride.
We’re already excited to see you all next year!

IMAGE GALLERY

TAC PEOPLE’S RIDE

ELITE RACES