About the Santos Tour Down Under

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.

First held in 1999, the Santos Tour Down Under is the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere.

This 11-day event brings UCI WorldTour professional cycling (male) 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. The event also plays host to a UCI Women's 2.1-grade event (one level below Women's World Tour status), which also attracts the cream of female cycling to Adelaide.

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.

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 and Allan Davis.

Not just a bike race, the Santos Tour Down Under is home to the largest Festival of Cycling in the southern hemisphere, with a range of associated events, mass-participation rides for kids and adults through the Subaru Breakaway Series, street parties and live music combining to create a massive party atmosphere across South Australia.

The Santos Tour Down Under invites the whole state to the party by taking the race through South Australian regions. The race typically starts and concludes with exciting Adelaide city street circuits, with stages 1-5 being held in regional South Australia. The Santos Tour Down Under provides a significant contribution to the state's tourism industry and showcases the attractions of South Australia to the world through global television coverage.

The Santos Tour Down Under is owned and managed by Events South Australia, a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission, on behalf of the South Australian Government.

The UCI

The UCI is the world governing body for cycling and was founded in Paris in 1900, and its headquarters are located at the UCI’s World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)’s commitment is to lead the development of cycling as a competitive

sport and activity in all its forms, across the world.

UCI WorldTeams

WorldTeams are the best teams in world cycling. The riders and teams are chosen carefully on the basis of financial, ethical, administration and sporting standards by the UCI.

UCI WorldTeams participate in every UCI WorldTour event, including other prestigious events such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

Awards

Australian Event Awards - 2016 Best Sporting Event