On the eve of the inaugural UCI 1.1 Towards Zero Race Torquay, we asked the stars of the pro peloton how they expect this dynamic race to unfold.
But first – 7 fast facts from Race Director Scott Sunderland:
- This race suits sprinters and powerful time-trial specialists, who can attack in the closing kilometres and finish alone.
- The course is 13.3 km per lap, with 160 metres of climbing per lap.
- The short punchy climbs on Duffields Road will provide the daring and strong riders with an opportunity to attack.
- The best spectator spots are along the Esplanade Start/Finish straight, in the town centre on Bell street from one of the bars or coffee shops, or along Duffields Road.
- The Surf Coast Times Super Sprints are on laps 3 and 6 when the teams test their lead-out train’s race finish readiness, along with the chance to pick up some extra cash.
- The UCI 1.1 category is a UCI World Ranking points classification for one day races over the 2020 season.
- Riders will be awarded points for their placings. These points also contribute towards their respective teams UCI World Ranking classification.
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal)
“I think it’s going to be a tough little circuit. 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.”
Chloe Hosking (Rally Cycling)
“I love that the race has been added to the calendar and that it has a top UCI ranking. 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.”
Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step)
“I think a lot of people will be motivated, it’s another opportunity to take a UCI [1.1] ranked race. It will make it difficult as well for the Cadel Evans because there’s less recovery. I think people will really go for the race win.”
Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-SCOTT)
“I am excited to have my first race with our new young British rider Jess Roberts – a really talented up-and-coming sprinter. In the 2019 season, she caught my eye when she beat Kirsten Wild (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling), and everybody knows how fast Kirsten is. She was a track rider and is now focusing more on the road, so she will be one to watch from Mitchelton-SCOTT.”
Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)
“It’s super nice to start that early in the season and people are so excited to see us racing there. People are motivated, it’s the first race of the season so people are ready and they all want to do a really good race. Come out, watch us race, there will be some good fireworks that day.”
Lotta Henttala (Trek-Segafredo)
“If it’s a sprinters race – anything can happen. We have super strong time trial riders in our team and they can go all the way as well… And, you have to watch us on the hills. I think we are a really strong team and we have so many options.”
Rik Van Slycke (Deceuninck – Quick-Step Sports Director)
“Torquay is a new race, but we trained in the past in that area, so it’s not like it’s unknown to us. On paper, the up-and-down parcours shouldn’t be selective…We won the later twice, and in Dries [Devenyns] and Sam [Bennett] we have two riders who can cover several scenarios, and that makes us confident we can come out of these appointments with some nice results.”
Join us in Torquay for all the action on Thursday 30 January. Find out more about the inaugural Towards Zero Race Torquay – RACE DETAILS.