Organizers of the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race have neither confirmed nor denied that plans are being considered to hold special editions of both races in September 2022 before the UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong.

Both races have been excluded from the international calendar for the early 2022 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the World Championships in Australia could create opportunities for new events.

Louis Cousard, race organizer of the Eurometropole Tour, recently told the Belgian newspaper La DH Les Sports (opens in new tab) that he had heard "noise" that the Australian race would be held in September.

It is possible that the race dates in September will be swapped because of the additional race in Australia before the World Championships and the need to travel to Australia somewhat earlier. The Eurometropole Tour, Benelux Tour, Tour of Britain, Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal (Canada), and many one-day races in Europe could be affected. [The 2022 Vuelta a España is scheduled for August 19-September 11, and other races are vying to provide an alternative late-summer race calendar.

The 2022 World Championships are scheduled for September 18-25, requiring athletes to be in Australia at least a week in advance to overcome travel and jet lag. The additional race in Australia will help the athletes acclimate, keep them fit for the race, and share the cost of travel and lodging to Australia.

The rescheduled races would also help put the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race back on the map of international sporting events after the COVID-19 craze.

The Tour Down Under is traditionally the first UCI international race of the year, hosting the men's World Tour Stage Race and the women's 2. Pro Rank Tour. In lieu of cancelling that international event, organizers have committed to hosting a national cycling festival from January 21-29, 2022, which will include four days of men's and women's National Road Series races. 15]

Victoria's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (which hosts one-day races for the World Tour and Women's World Tour) cancelled its early season races, but at the time of the announcement "we are currently exploring opportunities to host an international cycling event in late 2022 We are working on this"

. A media representative for the race from Visit Victoria, the state's tourism and events group, told Cycling News that no further statement was available at this time

.

On Monday, Tour Down Under would neither confirm nor deny whether holding some sort of race in September was an option being considered.

When asked if the Tour Down Under was considering holding an international event before or after the World Championships in Wollongong in 2022, he responded with comments looking ahead to January 2023.

"The Australian cycling community is committed to having the Santos Tour Down Under return to South Australia each January as the first race on the UCI road cycling calendar in 2023," Tourism South Australia told Cyclingnews.

." We look forward to seeing you all here."