The mid-week elite events of the Surf Coast Classic have been confirmed for cycle enthusiasts.
The Surf Coast is receiving another pair of world-class cycling events for 2025, as the Allan Labor Government confirm two mid-week races under the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race program.
Surf Coast Classic 2025
- When: 29 & 30 January
- Where: Between Geelong, Ocean Grove and Torquay as part of the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Today, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos announced the return of the Surf Coast Classic as part of the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race as backed by the Allan Labor Government’s Regional Events Fund.
“Victoria is home to world-class cycling events and the return of the mid-week races in 2025 is fantastic news for regional communities and cycling fans,” he says.
“The Surf Coast Classic will deliver a major economic boost to the region, drawing thousands of visitors and showcasing our great state on the world stage.”
Cycling fans who live near the Great Ocean Road will be able to see world class cyclists up close, as the race takes elite men’s and women’s teams to some of the most challenging and scenic roads in the state. The two races will be divided into a men’s mid-week race and women’s mid-week race, acting as a precursor to the highly anticipated annual cycling event, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, which is set to be held across Geelong, Ocean Grove and Torquay on the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February.
The races are offering up equal prize money for men and women, with the women’s race now only 100 days away on 29 January, followed by the men’s race on 30 January.
Mapping the stunning Great Ocean Road, both races will start in the picturesque town of Lorne and finish with a sprint along The Esplanade in Torquay – with the men’s race spanning 157 kilometres and the women’s covering a demanding 118-kilometre route.
The 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will mark the 10th edition of the iconic Australian cycling event, which has become a cornerstone of Victoria’s packed major events calendar – providing a major boost for regional businesses and tourism operators.
Since it was first held in 2015 the race has continued to grow in numbers and prestige, attracting the world’s top cyclists and tens of thousands of spectators each year. In 2024, more than 140,000 people attended the event, injecting millions into the economy and supporting local jobs and communities.
The Surf Coast Classic is part of Victoria’s stellar spring and summer major events schedule, which includes the MotoGP, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Matildas friendlies in Melbourne and Geelong, the Boxing Day Test, the Australian Open Golf and the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV, not to mention the festivals and community events that pop up across the season including the Nightjar Market, Festival of Sails and more.
To find out more about the Surf Coast Classic and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race head here.
