2026 Tour Down Under - Everything you need to know about the World Tour's first race
FAQSaturday, 06 December 2025 at 12:48
In 2026, the Santos Tour Down Under will once again be the first World Tour race of the season, with a new edition to be held from January 17 to 25 in Australia. The women's race will be run from January 17 to 19. Meanwhile, the men's race will start with a prologue on the 20th and conclude on the 25th.
This edition promises plenty of action. The route has new features, with key climbs such as the Old Willunga Hill and the iconic Corkscrew Road, as well as an iconic circuit in Stirling.
Beyond the competition, the 2026 Tour Down Under offers a 10-day cycling festival. Fans will be able to enjoy stages, participatory activities such as the Adelaide Epic or the Carpark Climb, a bike expo (Bike Expo) and the presentation of teams in Victoria Square on January 16.
FAQ about the 2026 Tour Down Under:
1. When does the Tour Down Under 2026 begin?
2. Where in Australia does it take place?
3. What does the Tour Down Under mean for cycling?
4. Why does it matter that it is the first World Tour race of the year and that it has a women's edition?
5. Activities beyond the races and key dates
6. Stages, route and schedules Tour Down Under 2026
7. How to watch on TV and follow the Tour Down Under live online
8. List of Tour Down Under winners
9. List of Tour Down Under classification and jerseys
2. Where in Australia does it take place?
3. What does the Tour Down Under mean for cycling?
4. Why does it matter that it is the first World Tour race of the year and that it has a women's edition?
5. Activities beyond the races and key dates
6. Stages, route and schedules Tour Down Under 2026
7. How to watch on TV and follow the Tour Down Under live online
8. List of Tour Down Under winners
9. List of Tour Down Under classification and jerseys
1. When does the 2026 Tour Down Under begin?
Female
In 2026, the Santos Tour Down Under Women will be divided into two blocks as explained on its official website: on the one hand, the stage race, composed of four days and with general classification, which will be held from January 17 to 19. On the other, the Santos Tour Down Under Women's One-Day Race (formerly known as Schwalbe's Classic), an independent race with a classic format that will also be held on January 21 in the Barossa region.
Male
The men's Santos Tour Down Under will be raced from January 20-25, with an opening prologue in Adelaide followed by five road stages. As every year, the race will mark the official start of the men's UCI World Tour season.
2. Where in Australia does it take place?
The Santos Tour Down Under takes place in the state of South Australia, with the main base in the city of Adelaide. The urban headquarters of the event is the City of Adelaide Tour Village - in Victoria Square. There is a team area, a bicycle exhibition, a social area for fans and complementary activities, all with free admission.
The stages are spread across the region: many start or finish in towns or hinterland areas, such as hills, vineyards or rural areas of the Adelaide Hills area. This gives the race a special blend of urban and natural scenery, showcasing the geographic diversity of the environment.
This combination - vibrant city center + nature, hills and countryside - makes the location of the Tour Down Under unique on the world calendar: it allows you to see the spectacle in the city while enjoying courses that showcase the beauty of South Australia's landscapes.
Willunga Hill is a key climb of the Santos Tour Down Under every year. @Sirotti
3. What does the Tour Down Under mean for cycling?
The Tour Down Under has a special relevance for being held outside Europe, where most of the UCI WorldTour calendar is concentrated. Being located in Australia, it becomes one of the few opportunities of the year for teams and riders to compete in conditions, routes and climates different from the European ones, which adds a unique strategic and logistical component (especially considering that being a WorldTour race all the top teams are obliged to attend by regulations). The race takes place in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere summer, and allows for a very different and more relaxed kind of racing than in Europe at the same time of year.
In addition, by opening the season in the southern hemisphere, the Tour Down Under allows riders to start the year with high-level racing before moving to Europe, establishing the first hierarchies and giving international visibility to cycling in a different market. This location reinforces the globalization of the sport and offers fans from other regions the opportunity to closely follow the start of the WorldTour and then hook into the rest of the UCI calendar.
4. Why does it matter that it is the first World Tour race of the year and that it has a women's edition?
The Santos Tour Down Under has a special significance as the first race on the UCI World Tour calendar each season, marking the official start of the top professional competition in both the men's and women's categories - besides the Australian national championships. By opening the year, the race serves as a thermometer for teams and riders. It allows to evaluate the form after the preseason, test team strategies and obtain the first UCI points that can be decisive for the final classification of the campaign and the 2026-2028 triennium.
Furthermore, with the inclusion of the women's category in the Women's World Tour calendar, the Tour Down Under consolidates itself as a key event that offers visibility and competitive opportunities to professional cyclists from the first major event of the year. This not only promotes equality within cycling, but also allows female riders to start the season with the same media and sporting relevance as their male counterparts, setting a standard for the rest of the UCI World Tour events.
5. Activities beyond the races and key dates
Confirmed dates of popular amateur events at Tour Down Under 2026
- Adelaide Epic Ride - Friday, January 23, 2026.
- RADL GRVL - Runs from Wednesday, January 21 to Saturday, January 24, 2026.
- Expo / bib pick-up: Wednesday, January 21.
- Shakeout ride ("Budgy Beach Ride"): Thursday, January 22.
- RADL GRVL main race day: Friday, January 23.
- Social activity / watch-party + ride to Willunga Hill: Saturday, January 24.
- General Festival / Village + Expo + family activities / group rides / Carpark Climb / other recreational outings - between January 16 and 25, 2026, the entire Tour Down Under period.
What to enjoy at each event
- If you want to "ride like a pro" but not compete at the highest level, January 23 is your day for the Adelaide Epic Ride.
- If you like gravel, adventure and a more relaxed/community atmosphere, you can participate in RADL GRVL between January 21-24.
- Everything else about the festival (expo, Tour Village, group rides, family activities, material exhibition, social atmosphere, etc.) will be active during the entire week of the event - from January 16 to 25.
Jonathan Narvaez won the Santos Tour Down Under 2025. @Sirotti
6. Stages, route and schedules Tour Down Under 2026
Women's Tour Down Under
Stage 1 - Willunga → Willunga (137.4 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 3:03 PM ACDT → 05:33 CET
Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Route: High Street (Willunga) → High Street (Willunga)
Stage 2 - Magill → Paracombe (130.7 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 2:49 PM ACDT → 05:19 CET
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
Route: Magill Road (Magill) → Paracombe Road (Paracombe)
Stage 3 - Norwood → Campbelltown (126.5 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 3:04 PM ACDT → 05:34 CET
Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
Route: The Parade (Norwood) → Maryvale Road (Athelstone)
Santos Tour Down Under Women's One-Day Race - Tanunda (94.2 km)
Start: 3:30 PM ACDT → 06:00 CET
Finish: 6:08 PM ACDT → 08:38 CET
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Route: Murray Street → Murray Street (Tanunda)
Richie Porte is a multiple-time winner of the Tour Down Under and the 'king' of Old Willunga Hill. @Sirotti
Men's Tour Down Under
Prologue - Adelaide (3.6 km)
Start: 6:00 PM ACDT → 08:30 CET
Finish: 8:30 PM ACDT → 11:00 CET
Day: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Route: Wakefield Street → Victoria Park (Adelaide)
Stage 1 - Tanunda → Tanunda (120.6 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 2:03 PM ACDT → 04:33 CET
Day: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Route: Murray Street → Murray Street (Tanunda)
Stage 2 - Norwood → Uraidla (148.1 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 3:02 PM ACDT → 05:32 CET
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Route: The Parade (Norwood) → Greenhill Road (Uraidla)
Stage 3 - Henley Beach → Nairne (140.8 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 2:52 PM ACDT → 04:22 CET
Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Route: Seaview Road (Henley Beach) → Old Princes Highway (Nairne)
Stage 4 - Brighton → Old Willunga Hill (176 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 3:39 PM ACDT → 06:09 CET
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Route: Esplanade (Brighton) → Old Willunga Hill
Stage 5 - Stirling → Stirling (169.8 km)
Start: 11:10 AM ACDT → 01:40 CET
Finish: 3:26 PM ACDT → 05:56 CET
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Route: Mount Barker Road → Mount Barker Road (Stirling)
The kangaroo, present in the official car of the Santos Tour Down Under. @Sirotti
7. How to watch on TV and follow the Tour Down Under live online
You can follow live online the Tour Down Under 2026 and the rest of the UCI WorldTour calendar with CyclingUpToDate, including the Women's Tour Down Under. It will soon be revealed where the race can be seen in the United States of America, Great Britain and Australia.
| Countries | Television |
| Spain | to be determined |
| United Kingdom | to be determined |
| France | to be determined |
| Australia | to be determined |
| United States | to be determined |
8. List of winners of the Tour Down Under
MEN'S DOWN UNDER TOUR
| Edition | Winner | Second | Third |
| 1999 | Stuart O'Grady | Jesper Skibby | Magnus Bäckstedt |
| 2000 | Gilles Maignan | Stuart O'Grady | Steffen Wesemann |
| 2001 | Stuart O'Grady | Kai Hundertmarck | Fabio Sacchi |
| 2002 | Michael Rogers | Aleksandr Bocharov | Patrick Jonker |
| 2003 | Mikel Astarloza | Lennie Kristensen | Stuart O'Grady |
| 2004 | Patrick Jonker | Robbie McEwen | Baden Cooke |
| 2005 | Luis León Sánchez | Allan Davis | Stuart O'Grady |
| 2006 | Simon Gerrans | Luis León Sánchez | Robbie McEwen |
| 2007 | Martin Elmiger | Karl Menzies | Lars Ytting Bak |
| 2008 | André Greipel | Allan Davis | José Joaquín Rojas |
| 2009 | Allan Davis | Stuart O'Grady | José Joaquín Rojas |
| 2010 | André Greipel | Luis León Sánchez | Gregory Henderson |
| 2011 | Cameron Meyer | Matthew Goss | Ben Swift |
| 2012 | Simon Gerrans | Alejandro Valverde | Tiago Machado |
| 2013 | Tom-Jelte Slagter | Javier Moreno Bazán | Geraint Thomas |
| 2014 | Simon Gerrans | Cadel Evans | Diego Ulissi |
| 2015 | Rohan Dennis | Richie Porte | Cadel Evans |
| 2016 | Simon Gerrans | Richie Porte | Sergio Luis Henao |
| 2017 | Richie Porte | Esteban Chaves | Jay McCarthy |
| 2018 | Daryl Impey | Richie Porte | Tom Slagter |
| 2019 | Daryl Impey | Richie Porte | Wout Poels |
| 2020 | Richie Porte | Diego Ulissi | Simon Geschke |
| 2021 | canceled | ||
| 2022 | canceled | ||
| 2023 | Jay Vine | Simon Yates | Pello Bilbao |
| 2024 | Stephen Williams | Jhonatan Narvaez | Isaac Del Toro |
| 2025 | Jhonatan Narvaez | Javier Romo | Finn Fisher-Black |
WOMEN'S DOWN UNDER TOUR
| Edition | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2004 | Oenone Wood | Sara Carrigan | Olivia Gollan |
| 2005 | Jenny MacPherson | Rochelle Gilmore | Alex Rhodes |
| 2006 | Jenny MacPherson | Sally Cowman | Bridget Evans |
| 2007 | Jenny MacPherson | Belinda Goss | Peta Mullens |
| 2011 | Chloe Hosking | Annette Edmondson | Nicole Whitburn |
| 2012 | Judith Arndt | Rebecca Werner | Alex Rhodes |
| 2013 | Kimberley Wells | Nicole Whitburn | Jenny MacPherson |
| 2014 | Loes Gunnewijk | Valentina Scandolara | Amanda Spratt |
| 2015 | Valentina Scandolara | Melissa Hoskins | Loren Rowney |
| 2016 | Katrin Garfoot | Shelley Olds | Lauren Kitchen |
| 2017 | Amanda Spratt | Janneke Ensing | Kirsten Wild |
| 2018 | Amanda Spratt | Lauren Stephens | Katrin Garfoot |
| 2019 | Amanda Spratt | Lucy Kennedy | Rachel Neylan |
| 2020 | Ruth Winder | Liane Lippert | Amanda Spratt |
| 2021 | canceled | ||
| 2022 | canceled | ||
| 2023 | Grace Brown | Amanda Spratt | Georgia Williams |
| 2024 | Sarah Giant | Nienke Vinke | Neve Bradbury |
| 2025 | Noemi Rüegg | Silke Smulders | Mie Bjørndal Ottestad |
9. Classifications and jerseys at the Tour Down Under
- Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey - This is the jersey for the general classification: it is worn by the rider with the lowest accumulated time, stage by stage, and in the end by the overall winner of the race. The ochre color refers to the outback landscape of South Australia.
- Ziptrak Sprint Jersey - For points classification / sprints: awarded to the rider who accumulates the most points in defined intermediate sprints and stage finishes. Usually favors fast riders / sprinters.
- Efex King/Queen of the Mountain Jersey - For the mountain classification: goes to the rider who gets the most points on the passages through the mountain passes or climbs. Traditionally it has a polka dots design, as in many stage-races in the sport.
- Young Rider Jersey - For the best "promise" or young rider: it is awarded to the rider under 23 years of age with the best overall accumulated time. It is the usual jersey for emerging talents.
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