King of Willunga Hill into TDU Hall of Fame
14 JAN 2026
Richie Porte – the undisputed King of Willunga Hill – is returning to Adelaide next week where he will be inducted into the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) Hall of Fame.
The retired Tasmanian star, who won the TDU’s queen stage an incredible six years in a row, will be honoured as this year’s only addition to inaugural inductees Mike Turtur, Simon Gerrans, Andre Greipel, Phil Liggett and the late Paul Sherwen.
And fans have the chance to celebrate with Porte when he rides up Willunga Hill before the men make their final ascent on Saturday, January 24.
Porte retired from professional cycling in 2020 after a career as one of Australia’s greatest ever climbers and one of the most dominant riders in TDU history.
He raced the TDU nine times in total, winning the Ochre Jersey twice in 2017 and 2020, and finished runner-up four times. He won eight stages including up Willunga Hill every year from 2014 to 2019, and twice in Paracombe in 2017 and 2020.
Porte was a long-time lieutenant for the likes of Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France before forging a leadership position of his own which he vindicated by finishing third overall in the Tour in 2020, in addition to winning Paris-Nice (twice), Tour de Suisse, Volta a Catalunya, Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour of Romandie.
“I started coming to the TDU with the national team in 2008, the first year it was WorldTour, and it was such an honour to come along and it really kick-started my career,” Porte said.
“That’s where the likes of Stuart O’Grady saw my name and put the word in to help me turn professional.
“To then come back some years later and actually win the race, it’s still a career highlight, and Willunga was always my favourite Saturday of racing for the year.
“The atmosphere was like nothing else with thousands of people on the roads it felt like the closest thing to an Aussie Rules grand final, it was electric every year.
“Adelaide in January was always a very happy place for me.
“But I always felt pressure to perform as well, that drive out there on race morning and in training for months before it was always in the back of my mind that stage.
“Everyone used to say ‘Richie will attack on the same spot on Willunga’, but I couldn’t tell you where that was, I just felt when the moment was right.
“So when I look back on it now and to have won so many times, it was very kind to me.
“As was the climb up Paracombe as well. I was out in my garden just the other day watering my pear tree and that’s what you got for winning up Paracombe – a pear tree – so there are nice memories there as well.”
The 40-year-old will be joined in Adelaide by his parents, wife and two children next week where he will be a special guest with Matt Keenan for Talking Tour in the City of Adelaide Tour Village on the night of Thursday, January 22.
But the biggest moment will come when he rides up Willunga Hill from 1.30pm ahead of the WorldTour peloton’s final ascent on THINK! Road Safety Stage 4.
“It will be the first time I can actually ride up and enjoy it and take it all in,” he said.
“I remember talking to Simon Gerrans the first year he couldn’t win the race, and I asked him how was Willunga, and he said he could actually enjoy it.
“So it will be a massive honour and a privilege to be able to go back and soak it all in.
“I’ve managed to stay fit enough that I can still get up there and having my parents, wife and kids there to share it with me will mean so much, it’s really nice of the race to let me have that opportunity.”
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said Porte had made a significant contribution to the success of the TDU and was thoroughly deserving of the honour.
“Richie Porte is synonymous with the Santos Tour Down Under but more specifically with the iconic Willunga Hill where he was virtually unbeatable throughout his career,” she said.
“His contribution to the race through his results is obvious, but during that time he became a fan favourite and has helped build the atmosphere on Willunga Hill to rival that of any stage in the Tour de France.
“It goes without saying that on behalf of South Australia and all cycling fans we congratulate him on his induction into the Santos Tour Down Under Hall of Fame and look forward to acknowledging his career in person next week.”
