Down the hard road

Superstar Ewan tips a tough race

CALEB Ewan will look to continue his hot summer when he sets his sights on today’s inaugural Race Torquay.

The Aussie sprinting superstar will take to the start line of the 130km race, which replaces Race Melbourne as part of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race carnival, after setting Adelaide’s Tour Down Under alight.

Ewan said he was interested to see how the riders adjust to the new event.

“I think it’s going to be a tough little circuit,” he told the race website.

“The race that we have had before Cadel’s is usually a hard race — and that’s usually on the flat. Torquay is going to be a little bit hilly, so I think it’s going to be a hard race.”

Compatriot Chloe Hosking is the favourite for the women’s 104km event, with both races to navigate laps of a 13.3km circuit.

Hosking will have to contend with Australian star Amanda Spratt and Finland’s Lotta Henttala in the race that will count to UCI World Ranking points.

“I love that the race has been added to the calendar and that it has a top UCI ranking,” Hosking said. “The communities along the coast are so supportive of cycling, so it’s awesome that we get to race out there and soak it all up.”

Starting on the popular

Torquay foreshore, the course heads out of town on the Great Ocean Road before swinging north onto smaller back roads.

The hills of Duffields Road are expected to play a big role in positioning.

Three short climbs await the riders, but the course is expected to be fast. The women are predicted to average 41.8km/h and the men a sizzling 48.3km/h. The women’s race starts at midday, with the men to begin at 4.45pm.