UCI Womens World Tour 2026 2 2026-01-31 2026-01-31 The 2026 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Women returns to the rugged Victorian coastline for a 141.2-kilometer test of endurance and tactical grit. The strategic narrative centers on the dual passage of the Challambra Crescent climb, a steep 1.2-kilometer ascent with gradients reaching 22% that serves as the traditional launchpad for decisive attacks. With the final crest located just 9 kilometers from the finish on the Geelong waterfront, riders must balance the raw power needed for the climb with the tactical awareness required for the technical, high-speed descent. The headline story focuses on Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ), who aims to become the first back-to-back champion in the race's history after her breakthrough victory last year. She faces a formidable field, including the newly crowned Australian national champion Mackenzie Coupland (Liv AlUla Jayco) and the resurgent Noemi Rüegg (EF Education–Oatly), who showed elite form during the Tour Down Under. Strategically, teams with numerical strength like UAE Team ADQ and Lidl-Trek are expected to apply pressure on the Bellarine Peninsula crosswinds to isolate the sprinters before the peloton reaches the punchy urban circuits of Geelong. 2435379