Australian cyclist Amanda Spratt eyeing another win at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Amanda Spratt took out the Great Ocean Road Race in 2016 and was so close to winning another last year. This time the former Aussie Olympian is back with a new team eyeing glory.

Amanda Spratt came second last year in the race. Picture: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

It is eight years since Aussie Amanda Spratt won the second edition of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in 2016.

After finishing second in the event last year, the two-time Olympic representative is daring to dream of claiming another victory on Saturday.

The 36-year-old knows she is not getting any younger, but the switch to new team Lidl-Trek has helped reinvigorate her career.

“I’m getting old that’s for sure,” she said with a laugh.

“I think myself for sure (I can race for) another couple of years, I’m still really enjoying it and I’m really, really loving Lidl-Trek my new team. Well it’s not my new team anymore I’ve been here for over a year but it’s been really refreshing for me and motivating and I’m really enjoying it.

“(Winning) would be incredible, that’s always the dream isn’t it to win again and it’s a race that I really love, I would really love to win on Australian soil again. That would be the ultimate dream but I hope with the team we can get a win with one of us.

“I think it always nice being Australian at these races because we have been out in Australia for a long time obviously and acclimatised.”

Hailing from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Spratt knows a thing or two about scenery. And she loves getting on the bike along the Great Ocean Road for the event.

Another feature of the race is the gruelling Challambra Crescent climb in Highton where crowds flock to see competitors giving it their all.

“It is unique in terms of the course that we have and starting here in the centre and going out on the Great Ocean Road, I think it is one of the most picturesque courses we have.

“Bells Beach obviously but I think the other one is the Challambra Crescent Climb. I think most (racers) in Australia know that climb from the Geelong World Championships and it’s become an iconic climb in this race as well.

“So that’s where I think a lot of the crowds are focused, on that climb or at the finish line.”

“It is always a really cool atmosphere going up there and it is so steep so we are not going very fast so you can hear it and appreciate it a bit more amongst the suffering.”

Originally published as Australian cyclist Amanda Spratt eyeing another win at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race