Seven to show elite women’s road race live
THE elite women’s event at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is back on free-toair TV after last summer’s race was controversially bumped from screens.
Channel 7 will broadcast the women’s race live and in full on 7TWO on Australia Day, a move celebrated by event officials yesterday.
The Deakin University Elite Women’s event was last broadcast live on Channel 7 in 2017 before being relegated to a live stream on the network’s app in January this year after Seven opted to telecast only the elite men’s race.
The move was condemned as a “regressive move” that demeaned women’s sport and the elite nature of the event.
Eleven international teams have been confirmed for the women’s UCI 1.1 classification race on Saturday, January 26, including Australian powerhouse Mitchelton-Scott.
Reigning champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Chloe Hosking, of Australia, will return to defend her crown with Italian cycling team Ale Cipollini.
“We will welcome the world’s fastest female riders to Geelong for the 2019 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race with an impressive field of 15 teams entering the event,” UCI women’s commission president, Tracey Gaudry, said.
“I’m also delighted that the Deakin University Elite Women’s race, a hotly contested fixture on the UCI women’s road cycling calendar, will be broadcast live and free on 7TWO in 2019.
“To have the support of the Seven Network is credit to the organisers and competitors of this world-class event.”
Deakin University vicechancellor Jane den Hollander said the return to free-to-air TV was significant.
“Deakin University determined and enthusiastic supporter of women’s sport and this event aligns with our aims of inspiring women to achieve at the highest possible level in whatever they choose to do,” den Hollander said.
“I commend Channel 7 for returning the Deakin University Elite Women’s Race to free-to-air television in 2019, giving our female cyclists the exposure that they deserve.”
The family ride is on Friday, January 25; the people’s ride is on Australia Day and the elite men’s road race is on the Sunday.