Date/Time
Date(s) - 16/01/2026 - 25/01/2026
See Description for times
Location
Adelaide, South Australia
Categories
The Santos Tour Down Under is the first stop for the world’s best cycling teams and riders, and is the opening event of the UCI WorldTour
The event was first staged in 1999 with local rider Stuart O’Grady taking the win. Since then, numerous internationally renowned cyclists have joined the Honour Roll. The event has grown year-on-year to become the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere.
This 10-day event brings both male and female UCI WorldTour professional cycling teams to race on the streets of Adelaide and regional South Australia each January.
Up for grabs are important UCI points and the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey.
In 2006, the Santos Tour Down Under introduced the iconic Ochre Leader’s Jersey. The colour Ochre is unique to the Santos Tour Down Under, featured because of its strong association with Australian culture and history.
In 2008 the Santos Tour Down Under became the first race outside of Europe to receive prestigious UCI WorldTour status to guarantee the world’s best elite teams would make their way to Adelaide.
In 2011, the event included the Rendition Homes – Santos Womens Cup, a series of women’s street criterium races, marking the first time female professional cyclists participated in the event. Australian Chloe Hosking was the inaugural overall winner of the event. The woman’s criterium cup grew to 3 races from 2012 with success for Australian and international riders during the competitions hosting.
The Santos Tour Down Under women’s race began in 2016 and maintained its initial UCI 2.2 status until 2018, when it became the first cycling event in the world to offer women the same prize money as men with its upgraded UCI 2.1 status. In 2023, the women’s race was elevated to UCI WorldTour status.
Some of the very best in road cycling have competed at the Santos Tour Down Under during its history. Tour de France winners Oscar Pereiro, Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre have all raced in Adelaide, alongside Aussie legends Simon Gerrans, Stuart O’Grady, Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans, Richie Porte and Allan Davis.
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