Elia Viviani ready to go back-to-back in Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Italian superstar Elia Viviani has committed to defending his Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race title, but he’ll have to again go through blossoming Aussie rival Caleb Ewan to salute on the Geelong waterfront.
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Italian superstar Elia Viviani will defend his Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race title in a one-day showdown he’s again desperate to win.
Viviani has committed to a return to the surf coast with a new team, but the same motivation for a February 2nd race he admits he has fallen in love with.
The sprinter has finished first (2019) and second (2018) in his two appearances at Australia’s premier one-day race, but he wants more.
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“I have new motivation and a new team around me. I love this race and I want to start next season in the best way possible. That means I want to defend my title,” Viviani told the Herald Sun.
“It’s a race that suits me perfectly; hard but not super hard. A reduced bunch sprint is what I prefer.
“It’s a proper classics course, up and down all day, short but steep climb, the wind can also make the race harder, so the race is pretty special for me. I also love the atmosphere – the week is all about cycling.
“I’m really excited to return to Geelong, I love the place. It’s a good course … it’s a super atmosphere all week. It’s a bike festival.”
Viviani, 30, will return Down Under after another stellar season. While the sprinter had fewer wins than 2018, the quality of them was undeniable.
His Tour de France stage victory in July gave him wins at all three Grand Tours after triumphs at the Giro d’Italia (2015 and 2018) and Vuelta a Espana (2018), while he became European champion and took out the London Classic and a third Cyclassics Hamburg crown.
The Geelong waterfront will also play host to another chapter in Viviani’s absorbing rivalry with Aussie Caleb Ewan, who the Italian narrowly held off at Cadel’s 12 months ago before Ewan’s blazing Tour de France performance.
“Caleb was the best sprinter at the Tour de France this year. He was super strong there,” Viviani said.
“From January we met a lot of times and every time our sprint is a battle until the finish line.
“He’s young, but he’s already one of the best sprinters in the world. The battle will continue next January.
“It was also fun to meet him on the track in London at Six Day.”
Viviani crossed to Cofidis in August in what was a marquee signing for the French team, with Viviani leaving the dominant Deceuninck-QuickStep after two seasons.
“I feel that the team wants to create a good strategy around me, they want me to be like a leader of the team,” he said.
“They stepped up to the WorldTour and together we’ll work to build a super strong team.”
Cuban Arlenis Sierra will also return to defend her crown in the elite women’s race on February 1.
Originally published as Elia Viviani ready to go back-to-back in Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race