[2][3] In November 2020, it was announced that the 2021 race would not be held due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.

This was due in part to a number of UCI WorldTour teams making the decision to stay in Europe due to uncertainty around international travel conditions and logistics of quarantine requirements.

[5] The event returned in January 2023, featuring on both the men's and women's World Tour calendars.

[7] The race starts on the Geelong waterfront in Victoria, and travels westward to the rolling hills of Moriac, turning south toward the famous surf beach of Bells Beach, following the surf coast to Torquay and through Cadel’s hometown of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove, before heading north back to a Geelong circuit before finishing back around on the waterfront.

[9] In 2019 the race was held in a team-based format with points awarded for sprints.