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The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women is a UCI Women’s WorldTour one-day race held in Australia and forms part of the elite global calendar of professional women’s cycling. The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women 2026 takes place in Geelong, Victoria, featuring a demanding coastal route, a decisive late climb, and a fast waterfront finish that consistently produces aggressive racing and world-class winners.
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The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women 2026 is a UCI Women’s WorldTour event on Saturday 31 January 2026 in Geelong, Australia, raced over 141 km.
For more Women’s WorldTour coverage, see our Women’s WorldTour Teams and Riders 2026 guide.
Quick Facts: Great Ocean Road Women’s Race 2026
• Official race name: Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women
• UCI classification: Women’s WorldTour
• Date: Saturday 31 January 2026
• Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia
• Distance: 141 km
• Race format: One-day road race
• Start and finish: Geelong waterfront precinct
• Key climb: Challambra Crescent
• Calendar position: Early-season Women’s WorldTour event
Therefore, Australia’s Surf Coast classic provides the first major benchmark of elite women’s racing each season.
What Is the UCI Women’s WorldTour?
The UCI Women’s WorldTour is the highest division of professional women’s road cycling. Teams awarded WorldTour licences receive automatic entry to all top-tier events and must meet strict financial, organisational, contractual, and ethical standards. Consequently, these teams define the competitive structure of elite women’s racing worldwide.
Confirmed UCI Women’s WorldTour Teams 2026
The following teams hold official UCI Women’s WorldTour licences for 2026:
- AG Insurance – Soudal
- CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto
- EF Education–Oatly
- FDJ United–SUEZ
- Fenix–Premier Tech
- Human Powered Health
- Lidl–Trek
- Liv AlUla Jayco
- Movistar Team
- Team Picnic PostNL
- Team SD Worx – Protime
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- UAE Team ADQ
- Uno-X Mobility
These organisations form the complete Women’s WorldTour line-up for the 2026 season.
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Course
The route of the Geelong Women’s WorldTour race follows a distinctive coastal and urban design:
• Fast opening roads from Geelong through Curlewis and Lake Connewarre
• Coastal approach via Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads
• Exposed shoreline at Thirteenth Beach, often producing crosswind pressure
• Rolling Surf Coast roads toward Torquay
• Two finishing circuits in Geelong
As a result, the race naturally divides into early endurance positioning, mid-race wind selection, and explosive racing on the finishing circuits.
Challambra Crescent Climb Breakdown
The decisive feature of the race is the Challambra Crescent climb:
• Length: 1 kilometre
• Elevation gain: 87 metres
• Average gradient: 8.7%
• Maximum gradient: approximately 11%
• Location: Inside the finishing circuits, climbed twice
Because the climb appears late and repeatedly, teams often force a high pace here to drop pure sprinters. Successful riders are typically puncheurs or powerful all-rounders who can crest the climb at the front and still finish strongly.
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Women Tactics
This event rewards:
• Puncheurs who excel on short steep climbs
• All-rounders capable of repeated accelerations
• Strong finishers from reduced groups
• Riders comfortable in heat and crosswinds
If crosswinds intensify along the Thirteenth Beach sector, early echelon splits are likely. If the climb is raced aggressively, a small elite group usually contests the finish. Therefore, pure bunch sprints are less common than reduced-group finales.
History and Recent Winners
Recent editions highlight the winning rider profile:
• 2024 winner: Rosita Reijnhout
• 2025 winner: Ally Wollaston
Both victories came from selective racing shaped by the Challambra Crescent climb and the fast technical run to the line. Accordingly, this race consistently produces winners with climbing punch and sprint resilience.
2026 Edition Details
The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday 31 January in Geelong. The race maintains its established 141 km format, combining coastal exposure, rolling Surf Coast terrain, and the repeated Challambra Crescent climb before the waterfront finish.
Positioned in late January, it serves as one of the first Women’s WorldTour tests of the season, often revealing early form among top riders and teams.
Startlist Status for 2026
Official 2026 startlists will be published by the race organiser and the UCI shortly before race week.
At present:
• Women’s WorldTour team participation is guaranteed by licence status
• Final rider entries will appear in the official UCI rider database
• Any early startlist listings remain provisional until organiser confirmation
Accordingly, verified team startlists should be checked in the final week before the race.
Weather and Local Conditions
Late January in Geelong typically brings:
• High temperatures
•• Strong coastal winds
• Low rainfall probability
Therefore, hydration strategy, heat management, and wind positioning are crucial. When crosswinds strike the coastline sectors, team depth and experience become decisive competitive advantages.
Viewing Guide
The race is broadcast in Australia on SBS, with international streaming coverage provided through official race partners and live timing services.
You can find official race information and live updates on the event website at https://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au and UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar listings at https://www.uci.org.
Why This Race Matters
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women serves as the first high-level Women’s WorldTour benchmark of the season. It tests new team line-ups, emerging stars, and early tactical cohesion. For fans, it delivers scenic racing along Australia’s Surf Coast. For analysts, it provides the first true performance signals of the Women’s WorldTour year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women?
It is a UCI Women’s WorldTour one-day professional road race held in Geelong, Australia, featuring coastal terrain and a decisive late climb.
When is the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women 2026?
The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday 31 January 2026.
How long is the race?
The official race distance is 141 kilometres.
What is the key climb in the race?
The decisive climb is Challambra Crescent, a 1 km ascent averaging 8.7% gradient, climbed twice late in the race.
What type of rider usually wins?
Puncheurs and strong all-rounders who can attack on short steep climbs and finish fast from reduced groups typically win this race.
