Henley Beach to Gumeracha Race Day Itinerary: THINK! Road Safety Race Day 1
Starting from the iconic Henley Square, the 164.9km THINK! Road Safety Men's Stage 1 gets underway at 10:40am, launching the Santos Tour Down Under for 2027.
From Adelaide's sparkling coastline to the charming towns of the Adelaide Hills, this opening stage offers plenty of opportunities to experience the race up close.
Whether you're a cycling enthusiast chasing the action or a fan looking to soak up the festival atmosphere, choose your own adventure or follow one of our curated itineraries.
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Cycling Enthuiast Itinerary | Fan & Families Itinerary | FAQs | Find out more about Race Day 1
Cycling enthusiast itinerary
Follow the peloton to key viewing locations and experience the race from some of the best vantage points on the route. Designed for dedicated fans who want to see more of the cycling action.
Before the race:
🚴 Ride to Checker Hill, Kersbrook. This is one of the best viewing locations of the day and gives spectators multiple opportunities to see the race.
Checker Hill | Arrive by 12:00pm
Set up at Checker Hill early and enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the race. You can see the Tour Parade pass approx. 30 minutes before the riders are scheduled to pass. Watch the riders tackle all three laps of the circuit for the day’s efex King of the Mountain contest (approx. 12:44pm, 1:31pm & 2:17pm). You’ll see the final pass approx. 8 minutes before the race finish.
🚴 If you leave after the first or second efex King of the Mountain, you will have time to ride to the finish line on Albert Street, Gumeracha or a nearby Adelaide Hills town. Details for the best vantage points along each race route detailed further below.
Race finish and post race:
Finish line action | Arrive by 2:00pm
Podium Presentation | Approx. 2:46pm
Stay for the podium presentations and soak up the post-race atmosphere.
Explore the best of the Adelaide Hills | From 3:00pm
Refuel at a local café, bakery or pub, or continue exploring the Adelaide Hills by bike.
Fans & Families Itinerary
Enjoy a relaxed day at the race with family-friendly activities, entertainment, fan zones and great viewing opportunities at the start and finish precincts. Perfect for soaking up the atmosphere and experiencing the Santos Tour Down Under.
Before the race:
🚗 Drive from Adelaide to the start line on Seaview Road, Henley Beach
Arrive early at the start line | From 8:30am
Get to the start line early to soak up the atmosphere before racing gets underway. Arriving by 8:30am gives you time to find a park, grab a coffee and secure a great viewing spot before the Tour Parade arrives.
See the Tour Parade | From 8:50am
The Tour Parade is your first taste of the action. Watch the colourful convoy of promotional vehicles roll through the start line, bringing plenty of energy – and keep an eye out for giveaways, merchandise and more along the way. The Tour Parade departs the start line at 10:10am.
Get close to the riders | From 9:20am
The race convoy arrives from 9:20am, as riders and teams begin their final preparations. Find a spot along the barriers near rider sign-on for one of the best opportunities to see the world’s best cyclists up close before they take to the start line.
During the race:
Race start and festivities | From 10:30am
The start and finish precincts come to life from 10:30am. Watch the riders roll out at 10:40am, then stay to enjoy our dedicated fan zones and big screens broadcasting the race live, so you can follow all the action as it unfolds. More information coming soon.
Alternatively, once the men's race has departed, make your way to another vantage point. Details for more vantage points along each race route detailed further below.
🚗 Drive to the finish line on Albert Street, Gumeracha
⚠️ Plan ahead for road closures: Roads along the race route will progressively close ahead of the peloton, with rolling closures generally in place from approximately 20 minutes before the race passes through. Plan your journey in advance and allow extra time to reach your chosen viewing location. (Note: plan for the rolling road closure 20 minutes before the first riders’ arrival, green light vehicle signals the road has reopened). More info coming soon.
📍For a more relaxed experience, you can choose to spend the entire day in either Henley Beach or Gumeracha, with plenty of entertainment, live race coverage and race-day atmosphere to enjoy.
During and post race:
Race festivities & finish | From 12:00pm
Arrive at the finish line on Albert Street in Gumeracha enjoy our dedicated fan zones and big screens broadcasting the race live, so you can follow all the action as it unfolds. More information coming soon.
Watch the THINK! Road Safety Stage 1 finish at approx. 2:36pm and see the first stage winner crowned. Then stay for the podium presentations, which typically begin 10 to 15 minutes after the winner crosses the line and run for approximately 15 minutes.
Podium Presentation | Approx. 2:46pm
Stay for the podium presentations and soak up the post-race atmosphere.
Explore the best of the Adelaide Hills | From 3pm
Tour Transfers
Skip the parking hassles with Tour Transfers. Travel from central Adelaide to the stage start and finish on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach, with reserved parking and more time to enjoy Australia's greatest cycling race.
FAQs
Seaview Road, Henley Beach
It all starts here. Come early to see your favourite riders sign-on (sign on opens 1 hour and 10 mins before the race) then see the race start from this iconic seaside location.
Peloton approx: 10:40am
Queen Street, Williamstown
Settle in to a café, restaurant, bakery or pub along Queen Street. See Ziptrak Sprint #1 here.
Peloton approx: 12:24pm
Checker Hill, Kersbrook
It’s all about Checker Hill, found between Kersbrook and Forreston, which will see plenty of hard-fought action on this first day of racing. See all three efex KOMs here.
Peloton approx: 12:49pm, 1:31pm, 2:27pm
Main Street, Lobethal
Settle in to a café, restaurant, bakery or pub along Main Street. See Ziptrak Sprint #2, plus an additional pass through.
Peloton approx: 1.12pm, 2pm
Albert Street, Gumeracha
Settle in to a café, restaurant, bakery or pub along Albert Street. See two pass throughs and the race finish here.
Peloton approx: 12:58pm, 1.47pm, 2:36pm
Estimated pass times are provided for guidance only and may vary due to factors such as race conditions and unforeseen delays.
Yes! The beauty about the Santos Tour Down Under is that it's a free and accessible event.
The riders will arrive approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes before the race starts.
Yes, as long as you're behind the barriers and respecting the riders who are preparing to race, you're welcome to ask for autographs.
Depending on the stage, parking can be limited. We recommend looking at our stage maps and planning ahead.
Alternatively, book a Tour Transfer and travel in air-conditioned comfort to each race day location with more time to relax and enjoy Australia's greatest cycling race.
After every race, the race leaders are presented on a podium not far from the finish line. The podium location varies depending on the stage, but follow the crowd and you'll find yourself there.
Aim to arrive at the start line 30 to 60 minutes prior to the race start. Grab a coffee, see the riders sign-on and snag yourself a signature.
This depends on what stage you plan on attending. If you just want to see the start or finish line action, you might only need between one to two hours. If you plan on watching more of the race, allow approximately three to six hours. There's plenty of events that surround the stages for you to explore.
