The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) today announced the event’s inaugural ‘Family Ride’ activity on Friday 29 January thanks to the support of new event partner Geelong based health insurance organisation GMHBA.
The GMHBA Family Ride has enabled the event to introduce a range of inclusive free activities to encourage more people within the community to come and participate in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and enjoy cycling as a family.
The activities will be staged on Geelong’s Waterfront and will lead into the formal Teams Presentations in Steampacket Gardens that evening.
GMHBA Cycling for Kids offers children the chance to participate in structured skills, age appropriate activities in a safe and welcoming environment conducted by accredited junior coaches and supported by some of the professional cyclists in Geelong for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
GMHBA Family Ride will provide families with an opportunity to ride a closed waterfront section of the course with Cadel Evans and experience the thrill of riding under the same start/finish gantry as the professional cyclists and as Cadel did in his final race.
GMHBA Kids Lead Out will see a small number of kids have the chance of a lifetime to lead the peloton while in neutral from the start of the Elite Men’s Race with Cadel Evans. Competition opens 15 January.
Australian owned GMHBA has been at the heart of healthy communities for over 80 years and Chief Executive Officer Mark Valena said the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race presented the opportunity to grow healthy and active family participation in the region.
“The new family ride gives everyone the opportunity to ride on a world class circuit just like the professionals, with the added bonus of riding with local cycling hero Cadel Evans,” Valena said.
“This is another way that GMHBA is able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to initiatives and events that promote healthy and active family participation. This new partnership is all about creating active communities. We hope that events such as this inspire upcoming generations to live healthy lifestyles.
“As the events proud new health partner, we look forward to seeing many local Geelong families at the start line in January to participate in the inaugural GMHBA Family Ride with our own brand ambassador Cameron Ling”, Valena added.
The GMHBA Family Ride activities have been developed to increase participation and according to the man whose name the event bears, participating as a family in healthy and enjoyable activities like cycling sets the tone for your children’s future behaviours.
“The introduction of a Family Ride for me is as important as anything we have achieved to date with the event. In most cases we are the product of our upbringing, so to enjoy exercise and activity together as a family is so important for setting kids off on the path toward a healthy lifestyle. It’s going to be great fun. I’m really looking forward to it,” Evans said.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race continues to attract a strong programme of partners including Momentum Energy, VicHealth, Deakin University, BikeExchange, Subaru, Mapei, TAC & Oakley
Stay up to date with race news, team announcements, training tips and all you need to know to enjoy the ultimate weekend of cycling by registering your details at www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au and following @cadelroadrace on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.