Santos Tour Down Under Festival Hits the Road

Excitement from the City of Adelaide Tour Village is set to extend beyond the CBD in January, with bespoke festivals to be rolled out at every start and finish location of the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU).

The TDU has today unveiled a major overhaul to its fan experience, bringing spectators closer to the action and providing family-friendly viewing for the six days of UCI WorldTour racing.

While the Tour Village remains the heartbeat of the event in the CBD, 11 unique, free-entry Start/Finish Line Festivals will be built in collaboration with the councils and towns hosting stage starts and finishes.

Each will feature a new on-track experience bolstered by roaming cameras taking spectators inside the peloton and team cars, mascot racing and entertainment, as well as dedicated bike zones with a bike valet service and mechanic for those heading out on two wheels, local food and beverage offerings, kids’ activities and increased seating and shade to watch the race.

The announcement forms part of the Santos Festival of Cycling program which includes Adelaide Crows star Wayne Milera being named the Health Partners Family Ride ambassador.

Fresh from earning his maiden All-Australian blazer after a career-best AFL season, Milera and his five-year-old son, Carter, are gearing up to take part in the Health Partners Family Ride on The Parade in Norwood on Sunday, January 24.

The TDU will run from Saturday, January 16 when the City of Adelaide Tour Village opens, through to Sunday, January 24 when the historic men’s and women’s WorldTour races conclude in Stirling.

As previously announced, SA will also host the Oceania Road Championships as a curtain-raiser to the TDU with a time trial and road race from January 15-17. The event will double as opening round of the ProVelo Super League Series with final race routes to be revealed in coming weeks.

The nine-day Festival of Cycling program also includes a range of other events and activities, including:

• A free Saturday night opening concert in the City of Adelaide Tour Village on January 16 headlined by DJ Hot Dub Time Machine.
• Autograph sessions where fans can meet the professional riders in the Village (January 16-18).
• The return of the popular Bike Expo showcasing the latest bikes, technology and equipment from some of the world’s best brands.
• Men’s team presentation from 7pm on January 16 and Women’s team presentation from 7pm on January 21.
• The party vibes at the Carpark Climb are set to bring the action into the heart of the city on Saturday night, January 23.
• Group Rides run by AusCycling will provide the opportunity to join a guided, daily ride from the Village and taking in different aspects of the race route.
• Santos Best Dressed Town awards will be judged in two categories including ‘best dressed town’ and ‘best dressed property’. Daily prize money ranges from $250 to $500; and the overall Best Dressed Town winner receives $5000 which is up from $3000 this year.
  
  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism Emily Bourke:

“There is already great anticipation about the 2027 Santos Tour Down Under when it makes history as the first race in the world to feature men’s and women’s racing over the same distance on the same days.

“But the TDU is so much more than just a bike race and the nine-day festival built around the racing offers something for everyone, regardless of whether you ride a bike or follow the sport.

“The City of Adelaide Tour Village with the Bike Expo attached is a mecca for cycling fans and the perfect spot for anyone to drop in and soak up the atmosphere of the biggest sporting event in the state.

“The new Start/Finish Line Festivals at each start and finish location are a great way to showcase local produce, hospitality and entertainment and will encourage people to spend even longer in the regions and towns that are hosting the action.”

Quotes attributable to Health Partners Family Ride Ambassador and Adelaide Crows defender Wayne Milera:

“Last year I bought a new bike and started going out once or twice a week; it’s great conditioning and good for the head to get outside on a nice morning or afternoon instead of being in the gym all the time.

“And Carter enjoys his bike riding. We ride to school every now and then and he loves taking his bike down the beach, or if we go for a walk around the neighbourhood he jumps on his bike as well so we are looking forward to being part of the Santos Tour Down Under in January.”

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM HERE