The first major competition of the road season, the Santos Tour Down Under, will take place from January 16th to 21st in Australia. The competition promises great disputes in its six stages, with the climax happening in the last two stages, with rises that will challenge the main leaders.
Check out all the stages of the Tour Down Under 2024:
1st Stage 16.01 Tanunda – Tanunda – 144km
The 1st stage will be on a circuit in Tanunda, which must be covered 3 times. On the route, cyclists will have 3 passes through Menglers Hill (category 4), with a distance of 2,064km and maximum gradient: 14.4%, with an average gradient of 3.8%.
2nd Stage 17.01 Norwood – Lobethal – 141.6km
Stage 2, 141.6 kilometers, leaves the suburb of Norwood and heads towards the Adelaide Hills, with the first “King of the Mountain” challenge to be faced in Ashton. The peloton continues past Summertown and Balhannah before the first sprint of the day, which takes place at Woodside.
Cyclists will then face three 35km loops around Lobethal, highlighted by two steep climbs up Fox Creek. Although this climb is short, its maximum setting of 17.8% will test even the toughest riders.
Additional sprint points will be contested before Lobethal, which will require the completion of the stage, keeping the expectation of exciting twists until the end.
3ª Etapa 18.01 Tea Tree Gully – Campbelltown 145,3km
The 3rd stage promises to be explosive, with an intense “King of the Mountain” climb in less than five minutes of running, followed by a variety of terrains, which will certainly challenge the peloton.
The third stage, 145.3 km, leaves Tea Tree Gully and heads towards Barossa, before returning to Adelaide. Both sprinters and cyclists interested in the General Classification will be able to focus on this stage, to guarantee crucial points and seconds over their opponents. A downward descent along Gorge Road at Paracombe will provide a thrilling conclusion.
4th Stage 19.01 Murray Bridge – Port Elliot 136.2km
The 4th stage departs from Murray Bridge on a 136 kilometer journey, which promises excitement. A neutral circuit will see the peloton cross the Murray River, before the race begins on the outskirts of the city.
The renowned Langhorne Creek wine region will host the first sprint of the day, with the second in Strathalbyn. The only actual climb of the day, King of the Mountain, takes place on Gemmell Hill, just four miles later. From there, head straight to Goolwa with the stage ending at historic Port Elliot, the region’s favorite summer holiday spot.
5ª Etapa 20.01 Christies Beach – Willunga Hill 129,3km
In the penultimate stage of the competition, riders will start at Christies Beach and travel through Port Noarlunga before heading inland, earning sprint points through the town of Willunga and at Aldinga’s Snapper Point.
Willunga Hill is expected to exert its influence once more, as it will have to be walked twice. The category 1 mountain extends for three km, with 224 meters of total climbing and a maximum slope of 15.6%.
6th Stage 21.01 Unley – Mount Lofty 128.2km
At this stage, fatigue should already be present. And the challenges will be great, with a series of ascensions. Cyclists will leave Unley and ride up to Windy Point in Belair before heading into the Adelaide Hills.
A circuit around the region will take in towns such as Mylor, Aldgate, Stirling, Uraidla, Crafers and Bridgewater. On this route, the hardest climb, Mount Lofty, with 1.3 km and a maximum gradient of 13.3%, must be climbed twice, before the 3rd and final ascent.
