Olympic marathon star Jess Stenson is swapping her runners for a bike and will be joining her kids for school holiday fun during the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) in January.
Stenson will be the ambassador for the Health Partners Family Ride on Tuesday 20 January and accompanied by her children – Billy (5) and Ellie (2) – for the Victoria Park event.
The ride is set to take place just before the professional peloton races over the same circuit for the hotly anticipated men’s Prologue and is one part of the Santos Festival of Cycling program which officially launches today.
The 10-day festival is a celebration of all things cycling and entertainment, celebrating South Australian hospitality, food and beverages.
Stenson, 38, is one of Australia’s most successful marathon runners as a three-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth Games medalist including gold in 2022.
“As much as I enjoy running, I do love getting out on the bike with (husband) Dylan and the kids and exploring the bike paths and trails around Adelaide and Linear Park,” Stenson said.
“We love watching the Santos Tour Down Under every year and I know the kids will be excited to ride their bikes around Victoria Park in January and feel like they are part of the big race.”
The centrepiece of the Santos Festival of Cycling is the City of Adelaide Tour Village which transforms Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga into a thriving hub.
All men’s and women’s stages will be shown live on a big screen, and fans can relax with the central main bar now offering selections from local brand Mismatch Brewing, food trucks and barista made coffee by Grinder’s Coffee while enjoying a daily entertainment program.
The Health Partners Recovery Zone will return again in 2026 for recreational riders, while the Health Partners Family Day will see Victoria Park packed with fun activations for young families on the same day of the Prologue. Highlights include the Tiny Tour – a mini racetrack for kids, ‘Cycle of Life’ nature play, Oppy’s temporary tattoo parlour and much more!
Fans will see their favourite cyclists for the first time at the Team Presentation on 16 January, followed by a free opening night concert featuring Hot Dub Time Machine.
The TDU’s popular Bike Expo is back to showcase the latest from top cycling brands and opportunities to meet riders from the pro teams, plus the chance to win a Pinarello DOGMA-F road bike and accessories valued at approximately $30,000.
Live sites will again be offered in a variety of spectator-friendly locations along the men’s race route. Fans can also enjoy the return of the ProVelo Super League and participation events including the Adelaide Epic Ride and RADL GRVL.
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the festival programming would appeal to South Australians and visitors to the state.
“The Santos Tour Down Under offers something for everyone, it’s much more than simply a world-class cycling race,” said Minister Bettison.
“Featuring the world’s best male and female cyclists and an exciting festival program, this event continues to be an integral part of South Australia’s major events calendar and contributes significantly to our visitor economy.”
Tickets are already on sale for DeTours, Prologue Hospitality, Men’s Stage 5 Hospitality and Tour Transfers.
All host councils of race stages this year will be hosting an associated event and/or activation in 2026. This includes ticketed food and beverage events, live sites for viewing the race, community rides and more.
