Tom Donnenwirth and Kevin Geniets in the mix in Geelong

# Groupama-FDJ United’s Resilience Shines at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

This Sunday, the Groupama-FDJ United cycling team showcased their determination and strategic abilities during the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, marking the conclusion of their Australian trip. In a gripping finale, team members Tom Donnenwirth and Kevin Geniets kept pace with the lead group, highlighting their strength despite ending with a somewhat disappointing result.

After the Surf Coast Classic was canceled earlier in the week due to bushfires, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race became the sole competitive event for cyclists coming from the Tour Down Under. The race spanned 183 kilometers around Geelong, featuring the challenging Challambra Crescent climb—1.3 km at 7.8% gradient—scaled four times, including a decisive ascent just ten kilometers from the finish line.

Jussi Veikkanen provided insights into the race dynamics, saying, “The first hundred kilometers were nervous, even though there were only three riders up the road… There was a lot of wind, and it brought tension in the peloton even if there was no real damage.” He noted that the expected climax unfolded as anticipated, especially during the final climb.

“We’re on the right track,” Veikkanen affirmed after the race, reflecting on the team’s performance. As the competition heated up, Donnenwirth and Geniets demonstrated their strength, with Donnenwirth reaching the summit of Challambra Crescent in fifth place among the top riders. “Kevin and Tom were strong, and both made it into the first group of around twenty riders,” Veikkanen explained, contrasting their performance with teammates Enzo and Guillaume, who were part of a separate group, and Lewis and Rémi, who faced setbacks due to a crash.

As the tension escalated in the final stretch, Geniets executed a calculated move by following an attack, though it was quickly neutralized. Veikkanen remarked, “Kevin sacrificed himself… He made the effort, and he did the right thing.” However, in the ensuing sprint, Donnenwirth found himself boxed in, ultimately finishing in 14th place, while Geniets followed in 21st. Tobias Lund Andresen emerged victorious, ahead of Matthew Brennan.

In spite of the results, Veikkanen remained optimistic, stating, “What I’ll take from today is that Tom was right up there on the last two steep climbs… We finished this campaign on a good note, and the whole group has progressed over the week.” The team is primed and confident as they prepare to return to Europe with the momentum gained from their Australian campaign.