Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under 2026: Key details
Date | 17-19 January 2026 (women's), 20-25 January 2026 (men's) |
Total distance | 394.6km (women's), 758.9km (men's), |
Number of stages | Three (women's), six (men's) |
Start location | Willunga, South Australia (women's), Adelaide, South Australia (men's) |
Finish location | Stirling, South Australia (men's), Campbelltown, Australia (women's), |
UCI ranking | Women's WorldTour and WorldTour |
Edition | 10th (women's), 26th (men's) |
Total climbing / elevation gain | TBC |
Leader's jersey colour | Ochre |
Last winners | Noemi Rüegg and Jhonatan Narváez |
TV coverage (UK) | TNT Sport, Discovery+ |
TV coverage (US) | NBC Sports, PeacockTV |
The Tour Down Under is the traditional opening event of the UCI WorldTour and Women's WorldTour season. The inaugural men's race was held in 1999, while the women's edition began in 2016. In 2018, the Tour Down Under became the world's first professional cycling event to offer equal prize money to men and women.
The race takes place in and around Adelaide, South Australia, and features a variety of terrain, from flat to steeply uphill. Riders often have to contend with challenging conditions and high temperatures, with the race coming at the height of summer in the southern hemisphere. The men's peloton tackle six stages and the women three.
Women's Tour Down Under 2026: The route
Stage | Date | Start location | Finish location | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
One | 17 January 2026 | Willunga | Willunga | 137.4km |
Two | 18 January 2026 | Magill | Paracombe | 130.7km |
Three | 19 January 2026 | Norwood | Campbelltown | 126.5km |
Men's Tour Down Under 2026: The route
Stage | Date | Start location | Finish location | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
One | 20 January 2026 | Adelaide | Adelaide | 3.6km |
Two | 21 January 2026 | Tanunda | Tanunda | 120.6km |
Three | 22 January 2026 | Norwood | Uraidla | 148.1km |
Four | 23 January 2026 | Henley Beach | Nairne | 140.8km |
Five | 24 January 2026 | Brighton | Willunga Hill | 176km |
Six | 25 January 2026 | Stirling | Stirling | 169.8km |
Key Info: Route I Start List I How to Watch - TBC
Tour Down Under 2026: The jerseys
Leaders of the four classifications: general classification; sprints; king/queen of the mountains; and best young rider sport a specific jersey.
The overall leader's jersey is ochre/orange, the leader in the sprints competiton wears blue, the king/queen of the mountains wear's a green and white polka-dot number, while the best young rider is in white.
Women's Tour Down Under: recent winners
2025: Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
2024: Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal)
2023: Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez)
2020: Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo)
2019: Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton–Scott)
2018: Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton–Scott)
2017: Amanda Spratt (Orica–Scott)
2016: Katrin Garfoot (Orica–AIS)
Men's Tour Down Under: recent winners
2025: Jhonatan Narvaéz (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2024: Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech)
2023: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates)
2020: Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo)
2019: Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott)
2018: Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott)
2017: Richie Porte (BMC Racing)
2016: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
2015: Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing)
2014: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
Official race links
Santos Tour Down Under Official website
Santos Tour Down Under Official X feed
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Toughest races yet, Women's WorldTour strength and more: Five things to look out for at the Tour Down Under 2026
The Women's WorldTour race begins on 17 January, with the men's WorldTour event following on 20 January
By Adam Becket Published
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Marlen Reusser, Sam Welsford and Marc Hirschi hit the ground running: 5 things we learned from the opening races of the season
Several high profile riders enjoyed victory at the first time of asking after off season transfers to new teams
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British teenager finishes second on WorldTour debut at Tour Down Under
Matthew Brennan says runner-up spot 'stings a little bit' but boosts confidence
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French pro cyclist suffering with memory loss after Tour Down Under crash
‘I have no memory of the crash’ says Rudy Molard of Groupama FDJ after incident in Australia
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'I don't know if I'll be at this team or in cycling next year': Julian Alaphilippe on the Giro d'Italia, finding his form, and his relationship with Patrick Lefevere
Frenchman will focus on the Classics and then the Giro d'Italia in his contract year at Quick-Step
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There is so much hope for British cycling, despite the domestic scene’s troubles
Stevie Williams’ victory at the Tour Down Under was just the latest breakthrough ride by a Briton, although there might not be a home UCI stage race to perform at soon
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Oscar Onley, Isaac del Toro proud but disappointed as both miss out on Tour Down Under victory
Scot finishes fourth, Mexican second, as breakthrough weeks end in dismay
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'Underestimated' no more: Stevie Williams powers to victory at Tour Down Under
The 27-year-old from Aberystwyth conquered Mount Lofty on Sunday to take overall victory in Australia, his first WorldTour GC win
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Stevie Williams 'over the moon' to be in lead at Tour Down Under ahead of 'tough' final stage
The 27-year-old leads the Australian race on count-back, and is hoping to triumph overall on Sunday
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‘He’s worked it out’: Oscar Onley meets his high expectations with Willunga Hill stage win at Tour Down Under
The 21-year-old Scot has shown his potential before, but a first win, at WorldTour level too, proved it
By Adam Becket Published
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Willunga Hill set to shake up Tour Down Under, with GC battle shrouded in mystery
Two climbing stages follow four days of largely flat racing in South Australia, so the weekend will decide the race
By Adam Becket Published
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Birthday boy Sam Welsford makes it a hat-trick at the Tour Down Under
Three WorldTour sprints, three victories for Bora-Hansgrohe’s sprinter. Will it always be this easy?
By Adam Becket Published
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'You can literally turn your brain off': Sam Welsford benefits from 'dialled' leadout again at Tour Down Under
Bora-Hansgrohe rider wins second stage in three days in Australia
By Adam Becket Published
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Testing confusion and the coveted tool: behind the scenes of the UCI’s new brake lever angle checks
The Tour Down Under is the first race where commissaires are testing the angle of brake levers on bikes, entertaining mechanics in the process
By Adam Becket Published
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Jayco AlUla set out to win 'every single stage and the GC' at the Tour Down Under
With Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp all on one team, the team's big goal for their home race might be in reach
By Adam Becket Published
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'Richie Porte's retired but I'm not, so look out' - Sarah Gigante targets Strava fastest time up Willunga Hill
Having conquered the South Australian climb at the Tour Down Under, the 23-year-old wants to come back to smash the fastest time
By Adam Becket Published
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‘I didn't miss a training session’: Sarah Gigante, comeback queen, triumphs at Tour Down Under
After racing just once in 2023, the 23-year-old Australian started her 2024 off with a bang
By Adam Becket Published
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The Down Under Classic: The best bike race you've never watched
Before the Tour Down Under kicks off on Tuesday, the men's peloton raced a crit on the streets of Adelaide pretty seriously
By Adam Becket Published
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Women's Tour Down Under: 'Patient' Ally Wollaston keeps her cool to take maiden WorldTour win
New Zealander beats strong Liv AlUla Jayco team in Campbelltown
By Adam Becket Published
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Jay Vine is more than a stage hunter and no Willunga works: Five things we learned from the Tour Down Under
The WorldTours are back, and some riders and teams hit the ground running, while others were absent
By Adam Becket Published
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Phil Bauhaus outsprints Caleb Ewan to win stage one of Tour Down Under
The German recovered from an earlier crash to beat Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews in a bunch sprint
By Sophie Smith Published
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Alberto Bettiol wins Tour Down Under prologue, Brown claims women's race title
The Italian made the best of dry conditions before the weather turned and says the real race starts tomorrow
By Sophie Smith Published
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CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
By Tom Davidson Last updated
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Tour Down Under 2023: Seven contenders to watch out for
Multiple big names from the men's and women's WorldTour will be beginning the new season in the coming days
By Tom Thewlis Published
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How to watch the Tour Down Under 2023
Don't miss the first WorldTour race of the season in Australia
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Tour Down Under 2023: Route, stages, and startlist guide
Taking a look at all the stages for both the men's and women's Australian race
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Jai Hindley set for ‘fun and aggressive racing’ at the Tour Down Under
Last year’s Giro d’Italia champion plays down his chances of a potential Tour Down Under Victory as he looks ahead to coming months
By Tom Thewlis Published
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CW LIVE: Wout van Aert and Shirin van Anrooij win cyclo-cross in Koksijde; Rapha unveil EF Education kits; Police search for two suspects in Mark Cavendish robbery; Paris-Nice route announced; Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas to ride Tour Down Under
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By Tom Davidson Last updated
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Richie Porte's crown is safe: Tour Down Under returns without Willunga Hill in 2023
The race is back on the WorldTour calendar for 2023, but Australian ace's favourite Willunga Hill won't feature
By Ryan Dabbs Published
