Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
Start location | Geelong |
Finish location | Geelong |
Distance | 141km |
Category | Women's WorldTour |
Previous winner | Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) |
Previous edition |
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Women overview
The Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women took place January 31, once again the first one-day race of the Women’s WorldTour, following on from the Santos Tour Down Under stage race in South Australia.
The Victorian race was first held in 2015 and was added to the Women’s WorldTour calendar in 2020.
Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) won in 2025, from a reduced bunch sprint in Geelong, claiming her first one-day WorldTour victory. Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) was second and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) took third place on the day.
And it was again Wollaston who took the crown in 2026, the podium completed by Josie Nelson (Picnic–PostNL) in second and Mireia Benito (AG Insurance–Soudal) in third.
The 141km course of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race went through the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, with the decisive Challambra Crescent climb and a fast finish on the Geelong waterfront.
The race offers equal prize money and prestige to the men's race, with the new WorldTour participation rules ensuring the top teams and riders from around the globe will be in action.
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2026 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Women with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
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Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Women31 January 2026 | Geelong | Women's WorldTour
Latest Content on the Race
'A bit bittersweet' – Josie Nelson concludes Australian season opening with second place at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
News British racer takes runner-up spot behind Ally Wollaston, having started her season with the same result at the Tour Down Under
Expectation was 'pretty chill' but reality 'got even better day by day' – New Australian champion Mackenzie Coupland close to podium at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
News Twenty-year-old Liv-AlUla-Jayco rider clinches fourth at second Women's WorldTour event
Who will close out the Australian summer of racing on top at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race? – Analysing the favourites
Contenders One clear contender for Saturday's women's race, but a more open field for the men's race on Sunday
Criteriums to replace cancelled Surf Coast Classics as lead-in event to Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
News Women's and men's races to unfold around 2km Eastern Gardens circuit in Geelong on Thursday afternoon
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