Cadel Shines over a weekend of cycling

With the sun shining, the ocean sparkling and the best cyclists in the world racing through our region in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the last weekend in January was packed full of buzzing cycling atmosphere.

The excitement started on Wednesday the 24th of January with the Welcome Wave, a civic event to welcome 120 of the world’s best female cyclists to the Surf Coast. The community gathered on the grass beside the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club to be part of the Traditional Wadawurrung Welcome to Country and photo opportunity. It was a special chance to rub shoulders with and be inspired by elite cyclists. The cyclists were then hosted to a dinner at the RACV Resort Torquay.

Council also collaborated with local businesses to activate over 30 ‘Cheer Sites’ for spectators to cheer the cyclists on, providing theming packs and promoting these businesses as the best place to watch the race. The enthusiastic ringing of bells from Torquay through the Hinterland is a sound the cyclists will long remember.

A super-sized Cadel Evans riding his bike on Forrest Road was also a massive hit with cyclists. This sculpture constructed by environmental artist Peter Day from large silage hay bales and brightly coloured recycled milk crates was funded by Council and Business and Tourism Anglesea.

It certainly grabbed the attention of the live event coverage broadcast on Channel 7. Council provided content to the broadcast team ensuring the Surf Coast was well featured on this coverage, promoting the region around Australia and into more than 140 countries throughout the world.