HISTORY
Honour Roll History Timeline
The Santos Tour Down Under is Australia's greatest cycling race, with a rich history as the highest-regarded and most popular bike race in the southern hemisphere.
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.
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.
The Santos Tour Down Under joined the prestigious UCI WorldTour in 2008, the first event outside cycling's traditional home of Europe to do so. The TDU is held in January every year, making it the first event on the international cycling calendar.
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.
In 2015, the annual women's race was established as part of the National Road Series, and in 2016 was granted UCI 2.2 status. With a further upgrade to UCI 2.1 status in 2018 the women's race operated under the Santos Women's Tour Down Under. International UCI world teams and riders competed in the first cycling event in the world to offer women equal prize money as the male riders. In 2023, the women's race was elevated to UCI WorldTour status and was the first event of the year on the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar.
The Santos Tour Down Under visits South Australia’s spectacular beaches, world-famous wine regions and historic country towns, including an exciting open race in the Adelaide city streets.
The elite of world cycling such as Peter Sagan, Cadel Evans, Marcel Kittel, Amanda Spratt and Andre Greipel have all come to South Australia to conquer the roads of the Santos Tour Down Under alongside Australia’s best.
Tour Down Under History Timeline
The Santos Tour Down Under returned after a 2 year hiatus due to the the COVID-19 pandemic.
The women's race was elevated to a WorldTour status – the top level of road cycling competition. It makes the Santos Tour Down Under the first event on the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar.
The men's race was won by TDU first-timer and Australian rider Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates). Grace Brown (Team FDJ-SUEZ) made history by becoming the first champion of the women's race at WorldTour level.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Men's:
Prologue: Adelaide Riverbank - 5.5kms | Winner: Alberto Bettiol
Stage 1: Tanunda to Tanunda - 149.9kms | Winner: Phil Bauhaus
Stage 2: Brighton to Victor Harbor - 154.8km | Winner: Rohan Dennis
Stage 3: Norwood to Campbelltown - 116.8km | Winner: Pello Bilbao
Stage 4: Port Willunga to Willunga - 133.2km | Winner: Bryan Coquard
Stage 5: Unley to Mount Lofty - 112.5km | Winner: Simon Yates
Women's:
Stage 1: Glenelg to Aldinga - 110.4kms | Winner: Daria Pikulik
Stage 2: Brighton to Victor Harbor - 90km | Winner: Alexandra Manly
Stage 3: Norwood to Campbelltown - 93.2km | Winner: Grace Brown
The Santos Tour Down Under did not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Santos Tour Down Under did not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richie Porte's second overall win at the Santos Tour Down Under, although the Tasmanian was beaten to the top of Willunga Hill by Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) in the final stage of the 2020 Tour Down Under. American Ruth Winder became the first international winner of the women's tour since gaining UCI 2.1 status.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Tanunda to Tanunda - 150kms | Winner: Sam Bennett (IRL)
Stage 2: Woodside to Stirling - 135.8km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 3: Unley to Paracombe - 131km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 4: Norwood to Murray Bridge - 152.8km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 5: Glenelg to Victor Harbor - 149.1km | Winner: Giacomo Nizzolo
Stage 6: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Matthew Holmes
Santos Womens Tour Down Under Stages
Stage 1: Hahndorf to Macclesfield - 116.3kms | Winner: Chloe Hosking
Stage 2: Murray Bridge to Birdwood - 114.9km | Winner: Amanda Spratt
Stage 3: Nairne to Stirling - 109.1km | Winner: Ruth Winder
Stage 4: Adelaide - 42.5km | Winner Simona Frapporti
Daryl Impey makes history as the first male rider to go back-to-back by claiming his second Santos Tour Down Under general classification. It was another big year for the Mitchelton-SCOTT team, with Impey's teammate Amanda Spratt claiming an impressive third consecutive victory in the women's race.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: North Adelaide to Port Adelaide - 129kms | Winner: Elia Viviani
Stage 2: Norwood to Angaston - 122.1km | Winner: Patrick Bevin
Stage 3: Lobethal to Uraidla - 146.2km | Winner: Peter Sagan
Stage 4: Unley to Campbelltown - 129.2km | Winner: Daryl Impey
Stage 5: Glenelg to Strathalbyn - 149.5km | Winner: Jasper Philipsen
Stage 6: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Santos Womens Tour Down Under Stages
Stage 1: Hahndorf to Birdwood - 112.9kms | Winner: Letizia Paternoster
Stage 2: Nuriootpa to Mangler Hill - 116.7km | Winner: Amanda Spratt
Stage 3: Nairne to Stirling - 104.5km | Winner: Grace Brown
Stage 4: Adelaide - 46km | Winner: Chloe Hosking
The Santos Tour Down Under turns 20! The twentieth edition of the event was held from 13-21 January in Adelaide and regional South Australia in searing heat, which saw one stage shortened and another brought forward to allow riders to compete in the gruelling conditions.
The race was won by South African rider Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-SCOTT), who finished on equal time with Richie Porte (BMC) but was awarded the Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey on countback.
It was also the first edition of the Santos Women's Tour Down Under to be raced at UCI 2.1 classification. The race was won for the second time by Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-SCOTT).
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Port Adelaide to Lyndoch - 145kms | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 2: Unley to Stirling - 148.6km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 3: Glenelg to Victor Harbor - 120.5km | Winner: Elia Viviani
Stage 4: Norwood to Uraidla - 128.2km | Winner: Peter Sagan
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Santos Womens Tour Down Under Stages
Stage 1: Gumeracha to Gumeracha - 115.7kms | Winner: Annette Edmondson
Stage 2: Lyndoch to Mengler's Hill - 102km | Winner: Katrin Garfoot
Stage 3: The Bend Motorsport Park to Handorf - 122.4km | Winner: Amanda Spratt
Stage 4: Adelaide Parklands - 46km | Winner: Chloe Hosking
UCI World Road Race Champion Peter Sagan wears the rainbow jersey in the Santos Tour Down Under lineup, making his return to the race for the first time since 2010.
Australian rider Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team) wins the Santos Tour Down Under for the first time in his career, with Caleb Ewan (ORICA-SCOTT) winning the sprint jersey.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Unley to Lyndoch - 118.5kms | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 2: Stirling to Paracombe - 148.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 3: Glenelg to Victor Harbor - 144km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 4: Norwood to Campbelltown - 149.5km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Santos Womens Tour Stages
Stage 1: Handorf- Meadows - 106.5kms | Winner: Amanda Spratt
Stage 2: Adelaide - 32.3km | Winner: Kirsten Wild
Stage 3: Tanunda - Lyndoch - 92.4km | Winner: Chloe Hosking
Stage 4: Victoria Park | Winner: Kirsten Wild
With UCI 2.2 Status, Australian Katrin Garfoot defeats international names to claim victory in the Santos Tour Down Under a record fourth time. Australian Simon Gerrans is crowned the champion of the Santos Tour Down Under a record fourth time. ORICA-GreenEDGE celebrates double success with Gerrans' teammate Caleb Ewan sprinting home to win the final stage.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Prospect to Lyndoch - 130.8kms | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Stage 2: Unley to Stirling - 132km | Winner: Jay McCarthy
Stage 3: Glenelg to Campbelltown - 139km | Winner: Simon Gerrans
Stage 4: Norwood to Victor Harbor- 138km | Winner: Simon Gerrans
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Caleb Ewan
Santos Womens Tour Stages
Stage 1: Mt Torrens - 95kms | Winner: Katrin Garfoot
Stage 2: Adelaide- 20.4kn | Winner: Nettie Edmondson
Stage 3: Lyndoch - 100.8km | Winner: Lizzie Williams
Stage 4: Victoria Park - 70 Minutes | Winner: Kimberley Wells
Cadel Evans completes his final UCI WorldTour event at the Santos Tour Down Under. Evans finishes third, with team-mate and local South Australian rider Rohan Dennis the overall winner.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Tanunda to Campbelltown - 132.6kms | Winner: Jack Bobridge
Stage 2: Unley to Stirling - 150.5km | Winner: Juan José Lobato
Stage 3: Norwood to Paracombe - 143.2km | Winner: Rohan Dennis
Stage 4: Glenelg to Mt Barker- 144.5km | Winner: Steele Von Hoff
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Wouter Wippert
ORICA-GreenEDGE cyclist Simon Gerrans becomes the first person to win three editions of the Santos Tour Down Under, finishing the race just one second ahead of fellow Australian Cadel Evans.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Nuriootpa to Angaston - 135kms | Winner: Simon Gerrans
Stage 2: Prospect to Stirling - 150km | Winner: Diego Ulissi
Stage 3: Norwood to Campbelltown- 145km | Winner: Cadel Evans
Stage 4: Unley to Victor Harbor- 148.5km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Andre Greipel
UCI World Road Race Champion Philippe Gilbert and 2010 Tour de France winner Andy Schleck lead the field of world-class cyclists at the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Prospect to Lobethal - 135kms | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 2: Mount Barker to Rostrevor - 116.5km | Winner: Geraint Thomas
Stage 3: Unley to Stirling- 139km | Winner: Tom-Jelte Slagter
Stage 4: Modbury to Tanunda- 126.5km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Simon Gerrans
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Australia's first professional WorldTour cycling team ORICA-GreenEDGE debuts at the Santos Tour Down Under, in a historic manner claiming overall victory with team member Simon Gerrans.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Prospect to Clare- 149.3kms | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 2: Lobethal to Stirling - 148km | Winner: Will Clarke
Stage 3: Unley to Victor Harbor- 134.5km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 4: Norwood to Tanunda- 130km | Winner: Óscar Freire
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - 151.5km | Winner: Alejandro Valverde
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Andre Greipel
The Santos Tour Down Under records its largest crowd attendance so far, with more than 780,000 people enjoying the race. The Rendition Homes - Santos Women's Cup is first held with 2 criterium stages.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Mawson Lakes to Angaston- 138kms | Winner: Matthew Goss
Stage 2: Tailem Bend to Mannum - 146km | Winner: Ben Swift
Stage 3: Unley to Stirling- 129km | Winner: Michael Matthews
Stage 4: Norwood to Strathalbyn 124km | Winner: Cameron Meyer
Stage 5: McLaren Vale to Willunga - 131km | Winner: Francisco Ventoso
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Ben Swift
Andre Greipel becomes the second rider to win the Santos Tour Down Under twice.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Clare to Tanunda- 141kms | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 2: Gawler to Hahndorf - 133km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 3: Unley to Stirling- 132.5km | Winner: Manuel Cardoso
Stage 4: Norwood to Goolwa - 149.5km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 5: Snapper Point to Willunga - 148km | Winner: Luis León Sánchez
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Christopher Sutton
Australia's Allan Davis marks his status as the only rider to have competed in every edition of the TDU so far with an overall win.
Lance Armstrong makes his return to professional cycling at the Santos Tour Down Under.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Norwood to Mawson Lakes - 140kms | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 2: Hahndorf – Stirling - 145km | Winner: Allan Davis
Stage 3: Unley to Victor Harbor - 136km | Winner: Graeme Brown
Stage 4: Burnside Village – Angaston - 143km | Winner: Allan Davis
Stage 5: Snapper Point to Willunga - 148km | Winner: Allan Davis
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Winner: Francesco Chicchi
The Santos Tour Down Under is awarded UCI WorldTour status; the first race of cycling's traditional home of Europe to do so.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Mawson Lakes to Angaston - 129kms | Winner: Mark Renshaw
Stage 2: Stirling to Hahndorf - 148km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 3: Unley to Victor Harbor - 148km | Winner: Allan Davis
Stage 4: Mannum - Strathalbyn - 134km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 5: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Andre Greipel
Stage 6: Adelaide East End Circuit - 88km | Winner: Andre Greipel
The wettest race in the Santos Tour Down Under history, including torrential rain on Stages 4 and 5.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Mawson Lakes to Tanunda- 152kms | Winner: Karl Menzies
Stage 2: Mannum to Hahndorf - 150km | Winner: Steven Caethoven
Stage 3: Stirling to Victor Harbor - 128km | Winner: Baden Cooke
Stage 4: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Pieter Ghyllebert
Stage 5: Adelaide - 90km| Winner: Robbie McEwen
The hottest race in the Santos Tour Down Under's history, with four consecutive days over 42 degrees Celsius and melting bitumen in Yankalilla.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Mawson Lakes to Angaston 148kms | Winner: Simon Gerrans
Stage 2: Stirling to Hahndorf - 146km | Winner: Allan Davis
Stage 3: Strathalbyn to Yankalilla - 154km | Winner: Carlos Barredo
Stage 4: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Russell Van Hout
Stage 5: Adelaide - 90km| Winner: Allan Davis
Luis Leon Sanchez wins the Santos Tour Down Under and consolidates his status as a rider to watch. He went on to win Paris-Nice in 2009 and four Tour de France stages.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Adelaide - 50kms | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 2: Salisbury to Tanunda - 150km | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 3: Glenelg to Victor Harbor - 139km | Winner: Luis León Sánchez
Stage 4: Unley to Hahndorf - 152km| Winner: Matthew White
Stage 5: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Matthew White
Stage 6: Adelaide - 81km | Robbie McEwen
Philippe Gilbert wins the Best Young Rider classification. Gilbert is best known for winning the World Road Race Championships in 2012, and for being one of only two riders to have won the three Ardennes classics in a single season, which he accomplished in 2011.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Adelaide - 50kms | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 2: Norwood to Kapunda - 157km | Winner: Dave McPartland
Stage 3: Goolwa to Victor Harbor - 150km | Winner: Philippe Gilbert
Stage 4: Unley to Hahndorf - 141km| Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 5: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Ben Day
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Baden Cooke
Cadel Evans wins the King of the Mountain classification.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Adelaide - 50kms | Winner: Baden Cooke
Stage 2: Jacobs Creek to Kapunda - 140km | Winner: Fabio Sacchi
Stage 3: Glenelg – Hahndorf - 164km | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 4: Unley to Goolwa- 144km| Winner: Baden Cooke
Stage 5: Willunga to Willunga - 147km | Winner: Steffen Wesemann
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Graeme Brown
Michael Rogers wins the Santos Tour Down Under, despite being hit by a motorbike during Stage 5.
Santos Tour Down Under stages
Stage 1: Glenelg - 47kms | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 2: Hahndorf to Strathalbyn - 150km | Winner: Michael Rogers
Stage 3: Willunga - 149km | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 4: Unley to Victor Harbor 141km| Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 5: Gawler to Tanunda - 156km | Winner: Cadel Evans
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | Robbie McEwen
Stuart O'Grady becomes the first person to secure two Santos Tour Down Under wins.
Stage 1: Glenelg - 47kms | Winner: Graeme Brown
Stage 2: Norwood to Murray Bridge - 142km | Winner: Fabio Sacchi
Stage 3: McLaren Vale to Victor Harbor - 165km | Winner: Alessio Galletti
Stage 4: Unley to Strathalbyn - 157km| Winner: Luke Roberts
Stage 5: Gawler to Tanunda - 156km | Winner: Kai Hundertmarck
Stage 6: Adelaide - 90km | David McKenzie
The Santos Tour Down Under includes a 180-kilometre McLaren Vale stage, which remains the longest stage in the race's history.
Stage 1: Adelaide- 96kms | Winner: Robbie McEwen
Stage 2: North Adelaide to Goolwa - 152km | Winner: Michael Rogers
Stage 3: Glenelg to McLaren Vale - 184km | Winner: Stéphane Bergès
Stage 4: Unley to Modbury- 136km| Winner: Steffen Wesemann
Stage 5: Gawler to Tanunda - 156km | Winner: Erik Zabel
Stage 6: Adelaide - 96km | Robbie McEwen
The Santos Tour Down Under begins and is won by local rider Stuart O'Grady.
Stage 1: Adelaide- 42.6kms | Winner: Nicolai Bo Larsen
Stage 2: Norwood to Strathalbyn | Winner: Erik Zabel
Stage 3: Glenelg to Victor Harbor - 149.5km | Winner: Stuart O'Grady
Stage 4: Port Adelaide to Gawler - 149.5km | Winner: Erik Zabel
Stage 5: Tanunda - 162km | Winner: Stuart O'Grady
Stage 6: Adelaide - 120km | Graeme Miller
