Organisers have cancelled both the Surf Coast Classic Women’s and Surf Coast Classic Men’s races, scheduled for Wednesday 28th January and Thursday 29th January, citing the evolving bushfire and weather situation in the Great Ocean Road region.
In a statement released on Tuesday, organisers said the decision followed updated advice from Victoria Police and emergency services, with the cancellation driven by a combination of heightened bushfire risk, rapidly changing and unpredictable conditions, the need to keep evacuation routes clear, and the requirement for emergency resources to remain focused on supporting impacted communities.
Race director Scott Sunderland said: “The safety of our riders, teams, staff, volunteers and spectators remains our highest priority.”
“Given the bushfire situation across the region and the advice from Victoria Police and emergency services, the safest and most responsible decision in the conditions is to cancel the races scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday,” he added.
Route change plans were already in motion
The mid-week races had already been forced into contingency planning earlier in the week.
With parts of the original route corridor affected by warnings linked to the Otways fire, organisers had announced on Monday that both events would start and finish in Torquay, rather than using the original start location, and would use an alternative inland loop. That plan has now been overtaken by the updated advice, resulting in a full cancellation of both races.
Alternative option for Thursday still being explored
While Wednesday’s race will not take place, organisers said they are assessing conditions and exploring alternative options for Thursday, 29th January, but only if it is safe and appropriate to proceed.
Sunderland said: “We’ll continue to work closely with emergency services and local authorities on whether it is safe and appropriate to hold an alternative event.”
No “identified impacts” to Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road races, for now
Organisers added that planning for the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Races this weekend is continuing, with no identified impacts at this time.
That weekend programme sits at the centre of the region’s major summer racing block, and the Surf Coast Classics are typically positioned as the mid-week lead-in events.
Heat and fire risk continues to shape the Australian summer racing
The cancellation follows another major disruption earlier in the Australian season, when the men’s Tour Down Under altered its Queen Stage amid extreme heat and fire danger, removing the planned Willunga Hill ascents.
This week in Victoria, organisers have pointed to the same core principle, that public safety and the ability of emergency services to respond to local needs must take priority over racing.
