AS IF YOU NEED MORE EXCUSES TO JOIN IN ON THE BEST PARTY EVER
1. THE FIRST UCI WORLDTOUR RACE OF THE SEASON
The Santos Tour Down Under is the first race of the prestigious UCI WorldTour season - and everyone wants to make their presence known. Expect some incredibly thrilling racing as the riders vie for points to set themselves up for the rest of the season.
2. WOMEN’S RACE SECURES UCI WORLDTOUR STATUS
The Santos Tour Down Under women’s race has reached UCI WorldTour status - the top level of road cycling competition. See elite female cyclists battle it out over four days in the Santos Women’s Race, from 14-17 January 2023. Elite international competitors will race alongside the best of the Australian women’s teams, in the heart of the city and also in the beautiful South Australian regions. The exciting race routes can be viewed here.
3. 779,000 SPECTATORS ALONG THE ROUTE IN 2020
The last edition of TDU was held in January 2020 and saw 779,000 fans lining the streets and roads of South Australia for the race, with 44,801 cycling fans making the journey from interstate and overseas for the event. Mark the 2023 event in your diary now – let’s aim for one million spectators in 2023!
4. THE ICONIC OCHRE JERSEY
The Santos Tour Down Under Ochre Leader’s Jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest cumulative time at the end of the race – but this isn’t the only reason it’s special. The TDU is unique in having Ochre for the Leader’s Jersey, introduced in 2006, with the colour strongly associated with Australian culture and history. Read more about the winner categories here.
5. GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE STARS
Forget the buses and the barricades you see in Europe: here, you can see your cycling heroes up close at the City of Adelaide Tour Village, watch team mechanics at work and grab those all-important autographs at the stage starts. Bring your camera – you’ll want photos.
6. THE CHALLENGE TOUR
Go beyond just watching the race and really get into it with the Challenge Tour. Featuring three of Adelaide’s most exciting climbs the new challenge tour will test even the toughest of legs. Pull on the event jersey, secure your timing chip and set off on the same route as the pros, just hours before they storm down the tarmac in search of UCI WorldTour points. Find out more and book your ride in the Challenge Tour here.
7. MEET MAX GAWN: CYCLING SUPER FAN AND AFL PREMIERSHIP CAPTAIN
Join AFL champion, cycling enthusiast and all-round great bloke Max Gawn in the City of Adelaide Tour Village. As an ambassador for the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under Max will be out and about during TDU enjoying all the festivities of our action-packed event - make sure you stop, say hi and chat all things cycling.
8. DRINKS AND DINNER AT THE HILTON – THE HOME OF THE TDU
The Hilton Adelaide Hotel is the Santos Tour Down Under’s official host hotel, and home to the cyclists for the duration of the race. Enjoy lunch or dinner at Coal Cellar + Grill and head over to the Collins Bar for an aperitif while you people-watch; you’ll definitely spot a champion or two!
9. COUNCIL HOSTS WITH THE MOST
Regional councils always put on an incredible party atmosphere when hosting race stages. Whether at Jetty Road Glenelg, the Barossa Loop de Loop, festivities in the Adelaide Hills or coastal parties on the Fleurieu Peninsula, you’re definitely in for a good time.
10. LITTLE LEGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE BIG STAGE TOO
Little legs are always welcome at the Santos Tour Down Under. Get the kids involved in the San Remo Family Tour. Share the excitement of riding the same road as the world’s best! You never know – you might have a champion-in-the-making in your family.
11. DETOUR TO THE BEST OF THE RACE REGIONS
Get your friends together for the ultimate Santos Tour Down Under experience with DeTours– four curated itineraries of unforgettable experiences. Book your spot to get up close with cycling’s greatest whilst enjoying South Australia’s renowned food and wine destinations, delicious food, amazing drinks and prime race viewing. Find out more here.
12. THE VILLAGE HUB
Live and breathe cycling? Get yourself to the City of Adelaide Tour Village in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga. Set to be the biggest one yet, there will be plenty on offer for cycling fans including expert panel discussions and the chance to meet elite international riders in the Team Zone. With free entry, the City of Adelaide Tour Village will also feature pop-up bars with daily happy hour, family zone and seating, live music, and fresh meals by Sprout which are inspired by the race stage that day.
13. LONG LUNCHES IN THE ADELAIDE HILLS AND BAROSSA
You’re in South Australia – home of boutique, world-class food and wine – and it is time to indulge. Regional stages are the perfect excuse to relax over a long lunch before cheering on the riders as they cross the finish line.
14. TREK NIGHT RIDERS
Let’s make things interesting, shall we? TREK Night Riders nestled right next to the City of Adelaide Tour Village- in Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga is an exciting part of the Santos Tour Down Under Festival of Cycling calendar in 2023. Grab your mates and a cold one and get set to watch Australia’s best elite domestic cyclists battle it out on a city circuit. Who will win bragging rights?
15. $66.4 MILLION INTO THE SA ECONOMY IN 2020
As a tourism event, the Santos Tour Down Under creates huge opportunity for local businesses and the local economy to thrive. The last TDU event in 2020 injected a massive $66.4 million into the state’s visitor. Now that’s something to be proud of!
16. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCENERY – BEACHES AND COUNTRYSIDE IN ONE STAGE
In just one stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, the riders could journey from the cosmopolitan suburbs to the rugged country, or from rolling vineyard-covered hills to sparkling white sandy beaches. Where else in the world would you get that kind of variety in one day?
17. TEAM PRESENTATIONS AND FREE CONCERT
Where else in Australia (or the world, for that matter) can you sit in the heart of the city, soaking up the summer sunshine and welcome the UCI WorldTour teams in their first race of the season? Some of the best voices in cycling will chat to each team about their hopes for the upcoming race, and you’ll get to preview their new race jerseys and bike set-ups. Once the sun retreats beyond the horizon, stay on for a free concert where pop icon Vanessa Amorosi will get 'absolutely everybody' ready to party in preparation for a massive week ahead. More details can be found here.
18. COMMUNITY SPIRIT ON SHOW
The Santos Best Dressed Town Competition is an invitation to all households, businesses, paddocks, schools and towns along the Santos Tour Down Under race route to get involved and ‘dress to impress’. Think yarn-bombed bicycles, hay-bale sculptures, hand-made posters and banners at the local schools – this is community spirit at its very finest.
19. EFEX PROLOGUE– AN EVENT FIRST
Set to thrill fans and test the peloton in the process this fast paced time-trial in the city has got to be the best way to welcome back Australia’s greatest cycling race. Grab your friends and set up roadside on the 5.5-kilometre Adelaide Riverbank route. With tight turns and a dive-bomb descent in the mix – the efex Prologue is not one to be missed.
20. AUSTRALIA LARGEST BIKE EXPO
Cycling fans get excited – Australia’s largest Bike Expo is coming to the City of Adelaide Tour Village. Touch and feel the latest technology and innovations from the biggest brands in cycling and learn from the experts – on throughout the festival it’s a must visit.
For more reasons why the TDU is Australia's greatest cycling race and to explore the full festival offerings click here.
