“If you really want to see the pain, the grimaces on the riders’ faces, that’s the place to be.”
The quote from Race Director Scott Sunderland sums it all up – Challambra Crescent climb will once again be a critical landmark when the 2024 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Deakin University Elite Women’s Race rolls through Geelong and the Surf Coast this weekend.
Fans attending the UCI WorldTour cycling event this week are being urged to plan ahead, securing their spot on the sidelines to watch the world’s best male and female riders battle it out on a modern one-day course.
Four official cheer sites will offer excellent viewing opportunities in 2024:
- The Velo Village at Steampacket Gardens,
- The Mapei Sprint on The Esplanade in Torquay,
- The Barwon Heads Bridge Sprint, and of course,
- The Shimano KOM & QOM live site at Montpellier Park, Highton (Challambra climb)
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The race for the Shimano King and Queen of the Mountains jerseys will be decided on the Challambra climb, the hill made famous as a part of the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.
In a change to the points structure from 2023, the elite men tackle this climb four times – the first time, points will be awarded 3, 2, 1, and the following two times, 5, 3 and 1 point will be awarded.
The women will complete two laps of the Geelong loop, and will be awarded 5, 3 and 1 points for both ascensions of Challambra.
The Challambra KOM & QOM Live Site is open from 9:00am – 5:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday with a feature-packed program. Watch the whole race live on the big screen while enjoying community activities, prizes and giveaways, live MC, music and entertainment, food and beverage provided by Jack Rabbit and Blackman’s Brewery.
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If you’re a fan of fast and furious racing, then the sprint segments on-course are not to be missed. Spectators can view the Surf Coast Mapei Sprint at the 56.7km mark along the Esplanade in Torquay. Soon after, spectators will be able to see the peloton fly through Barwon Heads, the hometown of Cadel Evans, and across the Barwon Heads Bridge for the second sprint of the race. Each will award 3, 2, and 1 points for the first three to cross the line.
The third and final sprint viewing opportunity comes at the Velo Village (Start/Finish Precinct) at Steampacket Gardens. This will occur at the 124.2km mark for the elite women, and the 140.8km mark for the elite men. In both races, it will be the final time that points will awarded for the Mapei Sprint Jersey classification.
The Velo Village will once again offer a big screen showing the action, sponsor activities, live entertainment, food and beverage and official merchandise. Don’t forget to grab a spot on the finish line barriers for what promises to be an exciting finale to the elite women’s and men’s road races.
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Elite Men’s Prize Classifications
Deakin University Elite Women’s Race Prize Classifications:
