A message from the Race Director: A world first is coming in 2027

I am writing to you with some exciting news – certainly the biggest news in my time as race director with the Santos Tour Down Under.
 
Earlier today we announced that from next year, our men’s and women’s races will be held on the same days.
 
Not only on the same days, but over the same course and the same distance.
 
We will become the first race in the world to deliver this new format at WorldTour level and I could not be more excited!
 
The dates of next year’s event are still subject to final UCI calendar approval, but are currently slated for the men to race six stages from January 19-24 and the women to race three stages on the corresponding days from January 22-24.
 
We know our crowds build as the week progresses and to have both men’s and women’s racing on a huge final weekend will be a great spectacle.
 
For spectators it will mean getting to watch two races on the same day. That’s two starts, two finishes and the chance to park up on the side of the road or ride along and follow the international men’s and women’s pelotons as they pass by within hours of each other.
 
For the riders it will mean even more colour and atmosphere and international eyeballs on the first race of the 2027 UCI WorldTour season.
 
The impetus for change was feedback from the UCI and the women’s teams to reduce the total time they were required to spend in Australia for two WorldTour races, and we saw it as an opportunity to do something bold, new and exciting.
 
The level of women’s racing at the Santos Tour Down Under continues to improve every year, and this January we successfully staged the longest and hardest women’s race in our history.
 
That is now set to go up another level again with the women’s peloton to tackle longer stages that will again showcase thrilling racing amid the stunning backdrop of a South Australian summer.
 
Details of the stages will be released in coming weeks, but as you can imagine, delivering the new format will be a significant logistical exercise for our entire team and would not be possible without the amazing support we receive from South Australia Police and emergency services.
 
So stay tuned for more announcements soon, but even though it feels like the dust has only just settled on what was a fantastic edition of our race in 2026, I’m already looking forward to what the new format will deliver in 2027 and beyond!
 
Stuey