LIKE A LOCAL
Cadel Evans’ Great Ocean Road
With a laid-back lifestyle, a thriving culinary scene and some of the country’s most stunning ocean views, Victoria’s Surf Coast and Geelong region has charm in (buckets and) spades. Australian cycling champion Cadel Evans takes us on a tour of his local region. THE LIFESTYLE, THE PEOPLE,
the city’s diverse food and wine bar scene and, of course, the bike rides: for Cadel Evans, all these elements combine to make Victoria’s Surf Coast and Geelong region his happy place. The former professional racing cyclist and Tour de France champion lives in Switzerland and returns home a couple of times each year. When he’s back in Australia, it’s the coastal town of Barwon Heads he calls home.
“There is a lot to do, a lot of buzz and exciting new ventures in the region,” he says of its appeal. “You’re always only 15 minutes or less away from the solitude and beauty of the coast or the country. You can’t beat that.”
Five years ago, the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – a four-day cycling event for pros and enthusiasts that encompasses Geelong, Barwon Heads, Torquay and all picturesque vantage points in between – marked Evans’ final professional race. Evans says it was also a chance for him to do something exciting and meaningful for cycling, the region and its people. “And to promote my favourite place in the world, to the world, by staging an event in a postcard [setting].” Evans shares his favourite spots across the region ahead of this year’s race.
TEDDY’S LOOKOUT, LORNE: You feel like you’re on top of the world looking along the most magnificent stretch of coast from here. It’s a special location that makes me feel alive.
BARWON HEADS: I live in Barwon Heads when I’m in Australia. It’s such a great, relaxed place with an array of cafes and restaurants as good as any small coastal town in Australia. Thirteenth Beach is one of the region’s great surf spots and riding Thirteenth never gets boring. The river is fantastic and I expect to be there over summer quite a bit with our son Aidan.
ANGLESEA: I love riding through Anglesea. The mountain biking is excellent.The beach is a favourite, the Anglesea Hotel is one of the coast’s best and, if you want to guarantee the kids a kangaroo sighting, you can do so via a guided tour in a golf buggy at the Anglesea Golf Club. GREAT OCEAN ROAD CHOCOLATERIE:
You can watch the chocolate being made here and have a hot chocolate. Plus, they sell Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race chocolate.
THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD: There’s something different every day along the Great Ocean Road: from the water colour to the tidal swells and vast beachscapes, not to mention the dolphins and whales that are regular visitors. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is 30 January – 2 February. cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com. au