Phil Liggett to Lead Broadcast
The Santos Tour Down Under has released an all-star commentary line-up ahead of the 24th edition of Australia’s greatest cycling race.
The ‘Voice of Cycling’, Phil Liggett MBE will lead the commentary for all six of the men’s stages.
Having celebrated his 80th birthday in 2023, Mr Liggett – also known as the “voice of cycling” will return to the Santos Tour Down Under for the 24th time.
“Each January, I return “home", to my favourite event in my favourite city. South Australia knows how to promote a big event in the friendliest of manners,” Mr Liggett said.
“The Santos Tour Down Under is seen by the European cycling world as the finest preparation to begin a new season. The race is blessed with the best riders in the world.”
“Because the event is based in Adelaide and travels each day to a new course, it means that for a week it is the epic-centre for one great party!”
Anna Meares OAM is a six-time Olympic Gold Medallist in track cycling, the only Australian to have won medals across four different Olympic games and will again be part of the commentary team providing insight into the challenges and high-level competition the athletes face for both the women’s and men’s races.
Popular sports presenter and Sunrise host, Mark Beretta OAM will return to host Seven’s coverage of the event, alongside cycling expert Matthew Keenan.
Former professional cyclists, Robbie McEwen AM, Scott McGrory, Gracie Elvin will also provide specialist commentary across various stages of the men’s and women’s race, meanwhile Weekend Sunrise weather presenter James Tobin will be amongst the fans to cover all the action along the route.
The 2023 broadcast made history as the first time that every stage of the Santos Tour Down Under women’s race was broadcast in full on free-to-air television both nationally and internationally.
Audiences across Australia will this year receive additional coverage of the men’s Down Under Classic and the women’s Down Under Criterium on 7Plus, which has long held the tradition of being an exciting criterium race on Adelaide’s city streets for the WorldTour pelotons.
Executive Director, Events South Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission, Hitaf Rasheed said the organisation placed a significant importance on the Santos Tour Down Under broadcast.
“We saw a record broadcast audience last year, up 11 per cent on previous years, proving there is an appetite for elite road race cycling in the country,” Ms Rasheed said.
“Bolstered by a strong commentary line up, we are excited to attract more fans to our great race this summer through a high-quality broadcast that will showcase the best that South Australia has to offer.”
Cycling fans can enjoy a broadcast of a combined 1,116 kilometres of action across nine days of racing. The women’s race will take to the spotlight first, racing on Friday 12 January with a fast-paced stage from Hahndorf to Campbelltown.
The men’s broadcast will begin on Tuesday 16 January and return to the Barossa for an opening stage that starts and finishes in Tanunda.
