Aussie gold medallist Grace Brown named as ambassador of Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

After calling time on her cycling career at the end of 2024, Aussie Olympic gold medallist Grace Brown will give back to the sport as she begins the next phase.

Cadel Evans and Grace Brown. Brown is the new Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race ambassador. Picture: Brad Fleet

Australian gold medallist Grace Brown will be the ambassador for the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in the 10th year of the event.

The cycling sensation took out Australia’s first gold medal of the Paris Olympics with her win in the individual time trial and announced afterward she will retire at the top of her discipline at the end of 2024.

Brown, 32, will enter the next phase helping promote the race in Geelong, Barwon Heads and Torquay.

The City of Greater Geelong has upped its funding of the event to $250,000.

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race will take place from January 29-February 2, with 3,000 everyday cyclists able to compete alongside Brown in the People’s Ride on February 1.

Brown said she was incredibly excited to be named as an ambassador.

Grace Brown and Cadel Evans. Picture: Brad Fleet

“It is really special to be able to transition in this way as a competitor in past years to now becoming an ambassador for the People’s Ride here,” Brown said.

“I think it is a beautiful way to integrate into the community, I grew up in Camberdown, not too far from Geelong, and the region is special to me in my youth.

“Coming back here and also being connected with Cadel who is a champion of Australian cycling is almost the perfect way to knock off onto the other side.

“I really think that this is one of best one-day races on the world tour calendar. It offers some really exciting races.”

Evans was thrilled to get her on-board.

“Grace inspired the nation earlier this year at the Paris Olympics and having her on the start line for the People’s Ride is an incredible opportunity for cycling fans to ride alongside an Australian champion,” Evans said.

Brown said she is still pinching herself four months on from her gold medal triumph.

“It is still a little bit surreal to me the experience of winning a gold medal. Coming across the finish line and also despite such a margin it was beyond my expectations and having the Australian community behind me,” Brown said.

“The great support, all the messages, just excitement behind it, it is nice to come back to the community and celebrate here.

“I’ll continue to do that when I do the People’s ride here in Geelong.”

Originally published as Aussie gold medallist Grace Brown named as ambassador of Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race