Australia’s premier one-day cycling classic returns this summer, with Visit Victoria and SBS confirming an exclusive broadcast partnership for the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, running from 28 January to 1 February 2026. Fans across the country will be able to watch every moment live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand, as the world’s best riders take on Victoria’s spectacular Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.

Since its launch in 2015, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race has grown into a must-attend event on the UCI WorldTour calendar, attracting elite men’s and women’s teams from around the globe. This year, 18 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams will line up for the challenge, including some of the biggest names in professional cycling. The course is as breathtaking as it is demanding, winding through picturesque coastal towns, rolling farmland, and the iconic Challambra climb, before finishing on Geelong’s stunning waterfront. Riders will also pass world-famous Bells Beach, adding a uniquely Australian backdrop to this international sporting spectacle.

Event founder and Tour de France champion Cadel Evans AM said the race was inspired by Europe’s great one-day classics:

“I was inspired by Milan-San Remo and Strade Bianche – races that riders love to compete in,” Evans said. “This is Australia’s own one-day classic, and fans can watch it live in prime time without having to wake up in the middle of the night.”

Last year’s winners, Mauro Schmid (Switzerland) and Ally Wollaston (New Zealand), return to defend their titles against a world-class field. With the event now holding mandatory UCI status, the stakes have never been higher, and the racing promises to be fast, tactical, and thrilling.

SBS Director of Sport Ken Shipp said the network was proud to showcase the event to a national audience:

“SBS is Australia’s home of cycling and we are excited to bring the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race to passionate fans this summer, along with the Road Nationals and the ProVelo Super League. More widely, we’ve put together a sensational January schedule of unique and varied sports events that will intrigue and entertain sports fans during the holiday season.”

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is more than a sporting event; it’s a celebration of Victoria’s natural beauty and vibrant communities. Thousands of fans are expected to line the route, creating an electric atmosphere and boosting local tourism. From Geelong’s waterfront to the Surf Coast’s beaches, visitors can enjoy world-class cycling alongside food, wine, and cultural experiences that make the region a summer hotspot.

Coverage begins with the Surf Coast Classic for men and women, leading into the elite races on the weekend. Thanks to the exclusive broadcast partnership between Visit Victoria and SBS, cycling fans can catch all the action live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand, cementing SBS’s position as Australia’s home of cycling.