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
Tour Down Under
Where: Australia
When: 21/24 January 2021
Rank: UCI WorldTour (men’s) and UCI 2.Pro (women’s)
Richie Porte won the Tour Down Under in 2020 (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Tour Down Under 2021 race info
The Tour Down Under does not returns for its 23rd edition and its 14th year as the curtain-raiser of the UCI WorldTour as it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WorldTour race has been replaced for an Australian riders only race in the Santos Festival of Cycling. The festival takes in similar stages to the main WorldTour event.
The women’s Tour Down Under was introduced in 2012, and thus celebrates its ninth edition in 2020. It’s ranked as a UCI 2.Pro.
Thanks to the men’s race being at the very start of the international cycling calendar, the Tour Down Under always enjoys considerable attention from cycling fans across the world, eager to see a bit of bike racing after a few fallow months.
Maybe as a result of those few months without cycling, but the racing always seems entertaining too, and although some parts of the peloton use it as a chance to cruise around and enjoy some good weather, at the front the racing is fierce as riders try to pick up crucial WorldTour points early in the year.
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.
With Australian riders having enjoyed months of training in the sun while riders from the northern hemisphere have been stuck on their turbo trainers, it’s no surprise that the Tour Down Under has traditionally been dominated by Antipodeans.
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.
Key info: Start list | Live on TV
Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 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.
Stage one, Thurs Janauary 21st, Seppeltsfield to Tanuda, 106.8km
Stage two, Fri January 22nd, Birdwood to Lobethal, 116km
Stage three, Sat January 23rd, McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill, 88.2km
Stage four, Sun January 24th, Victoria Park Criterium, 60mins +One Lap
Women’s Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 stages
Stage one, Thurs Janauary 21st, Seppeltsfield to Tanuda, 80.7km
Stage two, Fri January 22nd, Birdwood to Lobethal, 97.3km
Stage three, Sat January 23rd, McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill, 48.8km
Stage four, Sun January 24th, Victoria Park Criterium, 60mins +One 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)
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Matthew Holmes says he's 'never really raced up climbs' after beating Richie Porte at the Tour Down Under
The Brit beat Richie Porte to take a stage win in his first-ever WorldTour race
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage six highlights
The decisive GC day in the Australian stage race
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Richie Porte seals Tour Down Under title as Brit Matthew Holmes takes stage six win
The Tasmanian attacked on Willunga Hill with only WorldTour debutant Holmes able to stay with him
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Daryl Impey says he's 'put himself in a position to beat Richie Porte' in decisive Tour Down Under showdown
The defending champion leads Porte by just two seconds in the GC heading into the decisive Willunga Hill stage
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Caleb Ewan reveals reason behind bizarre near-crash at Tour Down Under
The Australian's picked up two stage wins at what has been an excellent season opener for the sprinter
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage five highlights
A final day for the sprinters ahead of tomorrow's GC showdown
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Giacomo Nizzolo wins stage five as Daryl Impey sneaks into race lead at the Tour Down Under
The Italian takes a first win for NTT under Bjarne Riis
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Sam Bennett 'gutted to come real close' as he chases second Tour Down Under victory
The Irishman says the finish of stage four being different from what was in the roadbook was partly to blame for his second place
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage four highlights
The sprinters were expected to return to centre stage on day four of the 2020 Tour Down Under.
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Caleb Ewan tears past Sam Bennett to take hectic stage four of Tour Down Under 2020
Caleb Ewan survived a sketchy run to the line and ripped past Sam Bennett at the last moment to score the win on stage four of the Tour Down Under.
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Richie Porte posts Strava data from commanding Tour Down Under stage victory
The overall race lead is now the Tasmanian's to lose
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage three highlights
The fight for the overall at the 2020 Tour Down Under was expected to kick off on stage three, as riders took on the first real climb of the race in Paracombe.
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Richie Porte explodes into race lead on stage three of Tour Down Under 2020
Richie Porte utilised a trademark attack on stage three of the Tour Down Under to explode into the race lead.
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage two highlights
World-class racing continued with stage two of the Tour Down Under 2020.
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Caleb Ewan destroys rivals to take stage two of Tour Down Under 2020
Caleb Ewan delivered on high expectations and tore the field apart during the uphill finish on stage two of the Tour Down Under 2020.
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Sam Bennett says he ‘felt pressure to get the first win’
Sam Bennett admits he was feeling the pressure to get an early win after joining his dream team for 2020.
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Watch: Tour Down Under 2020 stage one highlights
The men’s WorldTour has officially kicked off with stage one of the Tour Down Under.
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Sam Bennett comes out swinging to take victory on stage one of Tour Down Under 2020
Sam Bennett made an emphatic statement with his new team, taking victory on the opening stage of the Tour Down Under 2020.
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Tour Down Under 2020 odds: Here are the favourites to take the overall victory
The return of WorldTour racing is upon us
