Your guide to the 2027 Santos Tour Down Under stages

Our longest race ever 
Our world-first format change is just the start. The 2027 Santos Tour Down Under will also be the longest edition on record, with 876 kilometres across the men’s race and 397 kilometres ahead for the women. That means more time to see top international riders in action, and fresh challenges across stage routes designed to test even the toughest competitors.   

Coast with the most 
South Australia’s sparkling coastline stars in our next edition. Henley Beach, Glenelg and Christies Beach will host stage starts, while summer holiday favourite Victor Harbor is ready to welcome the men’s and women’s pelotons on Friday 22 January in the first Santos Tour Down Under stage to feature the same finish location for both races. 

It’s on from day one 
Traditionally it’s been sprinters who have a day one victory in their sights. This year we mix it up – inviting general classification hopefuls to seize an advantage as THINK! Road Safety Stage 1 unfolds. Cyclists will head inland from Henley Beach and, in a race first, conquer the punishing Checker Hill three times before the Gumeracha finish. It’s among a series of big-name climbs to feature in 2027, with Willunga Hill, Corkscrew Road, Norton Summit and Mount Lofty also on the agenda. 

Ziptrak® sprints 
The day’s first sprint will come in Williamstown, about 70 kilometres into racing, followed by a second chance for points as riders pass the Lobethal Hotel with about 105 kilometres of the stage complete.    

Climbs 
While the category one Checker Hill has featured 15 times in previous editions of the Santos Tour Down Under, riders have never been asked to conquer it more than once. We’re ratcheting up the drama across a stage that asks riders to dig deep on day one. And while this climb may be short, at 1.13 kilometres, its average gradient of 14.2 per cent kicks up to a brutal 18.4 per cent before the crest. The peloton will tackle it three times. 

Finish 
Get ready for a big finale in Gumeracha: an uphill push to the line that insists riders leave nothing in the tank. This 164-kilometre stage is among the longest in Santos Tour Down Under history – an emphatic opening day sure to feature its fair share of fireworks. 

Stuey says

This is a very exciting stage one – different and hard. It suits punchy sprinters who are able to get over Checker Hill, and the big question is whether pure sprinters will be able to hold on.”

The Barossa beckons on a 146-kilometre second stage whose moderate gradient belies the sting in its tail – an uphill drag to the finish sure to put even the peloton’s fastest men under pressure.  

At a glance 
The action’s in Angaston across a stage where sprinters will come out to play. Menglers Hill is back to test new-season legs, with a 50-kilometre loop covering local towns like Bethany, Greenock and Nuriootpa. Pack a picnic and watch roadside, call in at local wineries between race passes and make a day of it as the Santos Tour Down Under returns to pen a new chapter in the Barossa.   

Where's the action at?
All eyes will be on Angaston as this second day of racing unfolds. Be there as we count down to the start, send cyclists on their way and welcome two peloton passes before a final battle to the line. 

Finish 
Day two will draw to a close with a fierce push back into Angaston, finishing beneath the Murray Street after 146 kilometres in the saddle.  

 

Stuey says

This stage might look straightforward, but it’s a gradual uphill with the sprint getting faster and faster. The finish is uphill too, and it will be hard for sprinters to contend with the climbers.” 

Get ready for a general classification shakeup across this 166-kilometre stage as the men race through the Adelaide Hills and tackle the notoriously tough Corkscrew Road climb twice before a fast finish into Campbelltown. 

At a glance 
Up, up – then up some more. Day three will be defined by its climbs, specifically two passes of Mount Lofty followed by a dual ascent of Corkscrew Road at Montacute. Be roadside as the race visits a variety of Adelaide Hills towns, or take the opportunity to enjoy all the KOM excitement on a stage where anything could happen.  

Where's the action at?
Corkscrew Road is where champions come out to play. Riders will conquer it twice during the final 25 kilometres of this decisive third stage, racing down Gorge Road before making a left turn and on to the climb. Australia’s answer to the Alpe d’Huez is coming into its own. 

Ziptrak® sprints 
The day’s two Ziptrak® sprints will take place along Onkaparinga Valley Road in Woodside at the 50 and 110-kilometre marks, sandwiched between ascents of Mount Lofty and Corkscrew Road. 

Climbs 
Two of Adelaide’s most famous climbs will feature on day three. First comes two ascents of the category two Mount Lofty – a 4.4-kilometre burn with an average gradient of four per cent and a punishing maximum of 14 per cent – slated for the 24 and 84-kilometres marks. Next? Buckle up for two passes up the category one Corkscrew Road, whose 9.7 per cent average gradient spikes to a maximum of 16.2 per cent across a gruelling series of switchbacks. And, like many climbers’ stages, success here will also be shaped by technical skill on the descent.    

Finish 
Tree-lined Maryvale Road will host the stage finish after a fast and furious push down Montacute Road. Be roadside to welcome the day’s winner, then stroll across to adjacent Foxfield Oval where the podium presentation is set to unfold. 

Stuey says

We’re expecting the peloton to hit Corkscrew the first time and then go all in for their second pass – to blow it to pieces. This is the big GC shakeup day.”

An iconic 144-kilometre coastal route awaits as we become the only race worldwide to hold men’s and women’s stages on the same day, across the same route and over the same distance. 

At a glance 
Glenelg will launch the first ever combined men’s and women’s stage start on a day sure to test strength and strategy. Chandlers Hill, Coromandel Valley, McLaren Vale, Myponga and Yankalilla are among communities ready to welcome riders, who will navigate three climbs before a final assault on Nettle Hill with about 20 kilometres to go. All signs point to a close-fought finish along the Esplanade at Victor Harbor – a suitably dramatic end to this groundbreaking stage.       

Where's the action at?
Head to The Esplanade at Victor Harbor for coastal vistas and a summer party vibe. Riders will make a sharp right turn and race along the entire strip – a run-in that sets up another classic Santos Tour Down Under finish.

Ziptrak® sprints 
We’ll see green jersey points on offer at Aldinga’s Snapper Points after 56 kilometres of the stage are complete, with another Ziptrak® sprint in store along Main South Road in Yankalilla as riders pass the 92-kilometre mark.   

Climbs 
Cyclists will spend about nine kilometres of this stage conquering its four climbs. First is the category two Cherry Gardens Hill: a 2.9-kilometre slog with an average incline of 5.9 per cent that kicks up to a more savage max of 15.6 per cent. Its appearance at the 14-kilometre mark will be followed by the short, sharp Heatherdale Hill along Reservoir Road at Sellicks Hill once 71 kilometres are complete – just 95 metres of ascent across 1.1 kilometres, with an average incline of 8.6 per cent and a quad-burning peak of 13.3 per cent.   

Look for a further two climbs during the final third of this crucial stage. While the category four Norsworthy Hill at Inman Valley (three kilometres at an average of 3.4 per cent, rising to 8.9 per cent) appears with 101 kilometres complete, a bigger final test looms. Get set for the category one Nettle Hill Road at Hindmarsh Valley, which will make its appearance with just 21 kilometres of racing left for the day. With an average gradient of 5.9 per cent, a pinnacle of 15.6 per cent and 157 metres of total ascent, this one is going to sting. 

Finish 
Expect attacks across undulating terrain on approach to the finish as riders seize their chances to break away for victory. The final kilometre of this fan favourite route is new for our 2027 edition, taking in the entire Esplanade and setting up an unforgettable battle to the line.   

Stuey says

We’re kicking this world first off with one of the most iconic stages in TDU history. Glenelg was the first stage start when our women’s race joined the UCI Women’s World Tour in 2023, and now we’re ready to make history once again.” 

 

Willunga Hill comes into play across a 116-kilometre stage that begins in Christies Beach and then proceeds to put a new twist on tradition.  

At a glance 
Christies Beach welcomes back the action on a day set to be defined by its climbs. Coxs Hill in Clarendon is first to be conquered, with a sprint in Aldinga before the peloton makes its way up Willunga Hill. McLaren Vale vineyards will offer a scenic backdrop as racing continues, setting up a dramatic final 10 kilometres as riders grit their teeth up Willunga Hill a second time ahead of the summit finish.   

Where's the action at?
It has to be Willunga Hill. This storied climb will see four peloton passes for the day – two for the men, two for the women – and exert its influence on a stage that demands explosive energy and the stamina to dominate an uphill finish. Choose your favourite spot on the ascent, then settle in as the world’s best get out of the saddle. 

Ziptrak® sprints 
Ziptrak® sprint one for the day will be contested at Snapper Point in Aldinga Beach at the 61-kilometre mark. More blue jersey points will be on offer along Kangarilla Road in McLaren Vale when 106 kilometres of the stage are complete – about seven kilometres before riders begin their second and final ascent of Willunga Hill.  

Climbs 
Meet Coxs Hill. It extends across 10 kilometres amid the scenic slopes of Clarendon, offering 274 metres of ascent, an average gradient of three per cent and a maximum incline of 11 per cent. It’s the first time this category two climb has featured in the Santos Tour Down Under, and its debut will arrive about 14 kilometres into the stage.  

We’ll see the category one Willunga Hill exert its influence a little later. Its stats put even the toughest legs under pressure – three kilometres with 224 metres of ascent, an average gradient of 7.4 per cent and 11 per cent at its steepest – with no capacity for respite until the crest. Pass one will begin with 89 kilometres of the stage complete, while pass two will follow at the 113-kilometre mark.  

Finish 
You remember the moments: champions like Sarah Gigante and Richie Porte making Willunga Hill their own, finding another dimension on a climb made even tougher in the summer sun. Whether solo or fending off a final challenge, the last push to the line on this classic climb is the stuff of legend. 

Stuey says

Fans travelling by bike can really make the most of this stage. Start in Christies Beach, then head to Willunga Hill as the men and women take on one of the Santos Tour Down Under’s biggest tests.”

Norwood enters the chat as a final-day start location for the first time – sending riders into the Adelaide Hills and across a series of climbs on a 136-kilometre stage that builds to a big Stirling finish.  

At a glance 
The bustling atmosphere of Norwood on a Sunday morning promises a fitting backdrop to the final-day action set to unfold once riders set off. Their first order of business? Gruelling Norton Summit, then deeper into the Adelaide Hills where challenges including Checker Hill await. This winding route will offer some respite for weary legs between Woodside and Balhannah, though the pace is certain to pick up again around Mylor as the finish line looms. Stirling, among the Santos Tour Down Under’s most popular destinations, is set to host another classic finale.  

Where's the action at?
Leafy streets and historic charm make Stirling popular any time of year. But when the Santos Tour Down Under rolls into town? That’s a party.  

Be there as cyclists charge through with about 115 kilometres of the stage complete, then storm home about half an hour later. 

Ziptrak® sprints 
We’ll see the first Ziptrak® sprint for the day along Shannon Street in Birdwood – just near the National Motor Museum’s historic weighbridge – at the 54-kilometre mark. Sprinters’ final chance to earn points will come on Strathalbyn Road at Mylor with 107 kilometres of the stage complete. 

Climbs 
Weary legs from Willunga Hill have to wait. This final day demands riders go big in their pursuit of victory – and especially that they find a burst of power to conquer the last climb of all. First is the category one Ashton climb along Lobethal Road, which will be tackled just 9.6 kilometres after the stage begins. It extends across almost 10 kilometres, with 464 metres of total ascent, an average gradient of four per cent and a maximum incline of 9.2 per cent. 

There’s little time for cyclists to catch their breath. The stage will continue winding its way through some of the Adelaide Hills’ most scenic roads, building to another category one climb at the 42-kilometre mark. And while Checker Hill is considerably shorter, at 600 metres, its average gradient is 14.2 per cent. The max? A brutal 18.4 per cent – steep enough that it could curb some stage victory hopes entirely.  

Climbers’ final chance to shine awaits at the 115 kilometre mark, when points are up for grabs along Mount Barker Road in Stirling before riders head out of town and prepare for a frenzied battle to the finish.  

Finish 
The final two kilometres of this stage will be spent on Mount Barker Road in a frenetic push towards the central Stirling finish. You’ll hear the crowd roar before riders come into sight – propelling these remarkable athletes on as they chase Santos Tour Down Under success.   

Stuey says

This is a tough Adelaide Hills stage. It’s not straightforward, and there are lots of opportunities for attacks to shake things up on the final day of racing.”