Race to Warrnambool back on Great Ocean Road

THE Melbourne to Warrnambool bike race will return in a new slot in 2019, now scheduled for the back end of the cycling season in February.

The 262km course has also been re-routed after being shifted from an October slot to February 16.

Kicking off at Avalon Airport, the course is set to run down the Geelong Ring Road outside Lovely Banks and Bell Post Hill before avoiding the Fyansford Hill and re-emerging near Moriac.

The riders will also get a better taste of the Great Ocean Road, with the course to include a coastline stretch between Port Campbell and Peterborough. “We were really keen to put it back on major roads,” Cycling Victoria chief executive Paul Jane said.

“It’s been pushed out and pushed out and pushed out onto insignificant back roads and the event certainly wasn’t being seen.

“We’ve been negotiating with police and major authorities to get it back on some major roads so it gets a status it deserves.”

Jane said the cost to come through Geelong is one they’re “not ready to bear”, while Chinese New Year on the same weekend means they won’t be able to race past the 12 Apostles next year.

But Jane said the date change had the potential to stamp the Melbourne to Warr- nambool race back on the Australian calendar.

“It obviously starts off with the Bay Series, the Cadel Evans Race, the Tour Down Under and then we’ve got the Herald Sun Tour, and we wanted to get onto the back of that so the opportunity to pick up any pros that might be in the country in that point in time is enhanced,” he said.