The Cadel Evans Road Race Women opens the Australian summer of racing on the same demanding Geelong circuit as the men's event. First held in 2020, it climbs the steep Challambra Crescent, a short wall that reliably thins the field before a reduced-bunch finish. Ally Wollaston has made the race her own, winning in both 2025 and 2026 to become its first two-time champion. The climb rewards riders who can sprint after a hard finale rather than the pure fast women. It is one of the first chances each year to see early-season form. The Great Ocean Road gives it a backdrop few races can match.