Cycling fans will be able to get in-depth real-time data from riders competing in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Sunday.
Velon – a collaboration between a host of top World Tour teams – will be pumping out information from those out on the 174km course around Geelong.
V-Box data will include include power, cadence, heart rate and speed so viewers can see how hard the riders whose bikes have been fitted with Velon’s tracking system are working.
Fans can download a special app or simply log on to Velon’s website to get all the stats, while a highlights package will later be available showing the race as seen from GoPro cameras fitted to the bikes.
BMC Racing, Cannondale-Drapac, Orica-Scott, Team Sky and Trek-Segafredo have all signed up to provide Velon with rider data and on-board video footage – which will also be made available to Channel 7 who are showing the race live on national television from 11.30am AEST.
Cadel Evans, Australia’s only Tour de France winner, said: “For fans to be able see real-time rider stats as well as watch video taken directly from the pros adds significantly to the excitement of the race. Spectator engagement for the event will be next level thanks to Velon’s new platform and I’m really looking forward to seeing it in action.”
Sunday’s race starts and finishes on the waterfront in Geelong and also visits Barwon Heads, Torquay, Bells Beach, Mount Moriac and Wandana Heights.
Team Sky star and three-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome will be on the start line in Victoria and his team-mate Luke Rowe believes it will be an intersesting race on Sunday.
“The Great Ocean Road is simply stunning, and then you go through the flat lands where a couple of years ago the race split in the crosswinds, so there’s that to consider as well.
“It makes for a pretty open and exciting race – I’m looking forward to it.”
As well as the men’s race, 15 women’s teams will compete for honours in their own event which covers most of the same course, but minus a looped section at the finish – for a total distance of 113km.