Video Transcript

World Class Teams Confirmed for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

[Title: World Class Teams Confirmed for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

- Victoria State Government]

[CADEL EVANS GREAT OCEAN ROAD RACE]

[Vision: Cadel Evans talking to children]

John Eren - Minister for Sport, Major Events and Tourism

It’s fantastic that we’re adding to our calendar of major events, of course lots of cycling events. And we love our cycling, and I’d just like to go through a couple of those events.

[Vision: Bike race finish line - listing of events to come]

We are starting off the year with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Saturday January 30th and January 31st, highlighting the beautiful landscapes of Geelong and the surrounds in Bellarine Peninsula. And then of course we also have Jayco Herald Sun Tour February 3rd to February 7th. Also we have the Australian National Road Championships between January 6th and January 10th in Ballarat. And of course we also have Mitchelton Bay Classics between January 1st and January 4th.

[John Eren speaking]

And it’s great for Victoria, particularly regional Victoria, how we’re showcasing the wonderful areas that we have and why wouldn’t you showcase such pristine areas as Geelong and the Bellarine of course through the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

[Vision: Start of road race - overhead view of racers - close up of cyclists in race - start of Momentum Energy People’s Ride]

It’s the first year that we’ve held this event, and 1.3 million viewers and 100,000 spectators, and some 3½ thousand people participated in the Momentum Energy People’s Ride.

[Vision: Cyclists in race - John Eren speaking]

Some great teams will be coming along for this particular ride.

[Vision: Still photo of cyclists - list of participating teams]

So joining Cadel’s former team BMC Racing USA, and Australia’s own Orica-Green Edge, there will be Team Sky from Great Britain, Team Katusha from Russia, Lotto-Soudal from Belgium, Trek Factory Racing USA, LottoNL-Jumbo Netherlands, IAM Cycling from Switzerland, and of course Team Dimension Data from South Africa. And also there’ll be the UCI Pro-Continental teams, and they are United Healthcare USA, One Pro Cycling Great Britain, Drapac Professional Cycling Australia, Team Novo Nordisk USA, and CCC Sprandi Polkowice Poland, along with the Australian National Team.

[Vision: Finish of road race]

We’re fast become of course one of the great destinations for world cycling events outside of Europe.

[John Eren speaking]

We know how valuable it is to our economy.

[Vision: View of Twelve Apostles and coastline - Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company - sporting arena and night skyline]

And when you look at the tourism sector it’s $21b worth to our economy, some 206,000 jobs and of course major events represent some $1.8b to our economy.

[John Eren speaking]

And that’s why it’s so important to invest in all of these events that are occurring right throughout Victoria.

[Vision: John Eren and Cadel Evans with children - Cadel Evans on Great Ocean Road]

I prepared all my last 10 seasons as a professional on those actual roads that the race runs on, which fits in quite well.

Cadel Evans - Champion Australian Cyclist

But I think I feel honoured that I could put my name to such an event, and I’m glad that also the Victorian Major Events has seen the opportunity.

[Vision: Cyclists various shots in race]

We have the People’s Ride so that we can be - all of us can participate in the ride there, all the way to an Elite Men’s Road Race where we can current, past world championships, Tour de France winners and everyone competing right there.

[Cadel Evans speaking - aerial view of Great Ocean Road and scenery]

On one side we have the chance with the bike race to show the scenery of the area and we go on as much of the Great Ocean Road as logistics allow us to do so. And in terms of a little promotion for our area it works fantastically for that.

[Cadel Evans speaking]

But also we have this weekend where everyone can be involved.

[Vision: Cadel Evans and children]

[CADEL EVANS GREAT OCEAN ROAD RACE]

[Victoria State Government]

[Speaker: Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]