Tour Down Under
Where: Adelaide, Australia
When: 21-29 January 2022
Rank: UCI WorldTour (men's) and UCI 2.Pro (women's)
Tour Down Under 2022 race info
Organisers confirmed that the Tour Down Under won't return in 2022, cancelling the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the second year running.
Instead, an all-Australian event known as the Santos Festival of Cycling will be held in its place, featuring a week of competitions across road, track, paracycling, BMX, mountain bike and cyclocross, and a four-stage race on the National Road Series.
The festival takes in similar stages to the main WorldTour event.
Organisers introduced the women's Tour Down Under race in 2012, meaning it misses out on what would've been its tenth year anniversary, had it not been for the pandemic.
The Australian races general heralds the start of an international cycling calendar, but its cancellation means that UCI race organisers will have to find other suitable events to take its place.
Tour Down Under generally offers a good opportunity for riders to pick up some early WorldTour points, while others find it a useful way to dust the cobwebs off and race competitively again for the first time in a couple of months.
The Tour Down Under stages are generally flat or rolling, with sprinters picking up the majority of the stage wins, but the overall winner of the men's event is generally decided with the annual summit finish on Willunga Hill.
The women's race also makes heavy use of the Adelaide Hills, though the final stage and the Willunga Hill finish is swapped out in favour of a criterium.
Australian riders have won the men's Tour Down Under 12 times, and the women's four times. Simon Gerrans holds the record for the most overall wins with four of the men's race, and Amanda Spratt has three wins of the women's in its short existence.
Santos Festival of Cycling 2022 stages
The Santos Festival of Cycling has four stages on varied terrain with flat sprint stages, a climb up Willunga Hill and a criterium race.
Criterium race, Wed 26 January, Adelaide - Adelaide, 45mins + 1 lap
Stage one, Thurs 27 January, Stirling - Lobethal, 114.2km
Stage two, Fri 28 January, Mount Lofty - Woodside, 112.9km
Stage three, Sat 29 January, McLaren Vale - Willunga Hill, 113.2km
Women's Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 stages
Stage one, Sun 23 January, Tanunda - Williamstown, 86.1km
Stage two, Mon 24 January, McLaren Vale - Echunga, 85.7km
Stage three, Tues 25 January, Lobethal - Lobethal, 86.9km
Criterium race, Wed 26 January, Adelaide - Adelaide, 45mins + 1 lap
Tour Down Under: recent winners
2021: N/A
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)
2013: Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco Pro Cycling)
2012: Simon Gerrans (GreenEdge)
2011: Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Cervelo)
2010: André Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2009: Allan Davis (Quick Step)
2008: André Greipel (Team High Road)
2007: Martin Elmiger (Ag2r Prévoyance)
Women's Tour Down Under: recent winners
2021: N/A
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)
2015: Valentina Scandolara (Orica–AIS)
2014: Loes Gunnewijk (Orica–AIS)
2013: Kimberley Wells (Specialized–Securitor)
2012: Judith Arndt (GreenEDGE–AIS)
Latest
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Porte and Dennis to ride Santos Festival of Cycling 2022
Confirmed teams and riders taking part in the 2022 Santos Festival of Cycling (January 23-29)
By Cycling Weekly • Published
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Postponed Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans races may take place ahead of September Worlds
The races, if the rumour is true, will be taking place before the UCI World Championships in Wollongong, Australia
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
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The Tour Down Under will not be taking place in 2022
The race will be replaced once again by the 'Santos Festival of Cycling' as border closures and quarantine rules continue
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
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Richie Porte wins up Willunga Hill as Sarah Gigante smashes QOM at Santos Festival of Cycling
It may not be a regular Tour Down Under, but some things remain the same
By Jonny Long • Published
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How to watch the Santos Festival of Cycling 2021: Live stream all the action from the Australian stage race
The Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 is a unique opportunity for Australian pros to compete in a domestic stage race - here’s how you can live stream this year’s event.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
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Tour Down Under 2021 cancelled due to coronavirus concerns
The first WorldTour event of next year has been called off as the global pandemic rumbles on
By Jonny Long • Published
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Tour Down Under 2021 teeters on edge of cancellation due to Covid-19
Race organisers expect to make a decision about the viability of the January event next week
By Jonny Long • Published
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Five things we learned from the Tour Down Under 2020
The first WorldTour race of the season is done and dusted
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
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Richie Porte obliterated the Willunga Hill KoM - here's how his ride compares to previous years
The Tasmanian knocked 30 seconds off his previous best time on the climb
By Jonny Long • Published