Get ready for an exciting start to the women's cycling season with the Tour Down Under! This race is a true global affair, bringing together the best riders from around the world, including all 14 WorldTour teams, for the very first time in its history.
For those unfamiliar, the Tour Down Under is a January staple for women's professional road racing. It's a chance for riders from Europe and North America to escape the winter chill and get some quality training in the sunny Adelaide hills. Meanwhile, for the local Australian riders, it's a chance to showcase their skills on the world stage.
But here's where it gets controversial... Australia's WorldTour races are now mandatory for these top teams. Previously, they had the option to skip Cadel's Race and the women's Tour Down Under, but not anymore. This change has significant implications for the race and the riders.
The three-day stage race, accompanied by a one-day event, will award the first WorldTour points of the year. Many riders view this as a crucial opportunity to gain confidence and momentum heading into the European season. This year, the women's race will feature a new challenge: Corkscrew Road, which they'll tackle twice on the final day, instead of the traditional Willunga Hill climb.
And this is the part most people miss... This year's Tour Down Under is shaping up to be the toughest yet, not just because of the course, but because of the incredible level of competition. With all the best teams on the start line, the race is bound to be intense. However, it's still January, and traditionally, the Australian riders have been on fire during this time of year. All eyes will be on the hometown favorites as they aim for victory on Monday.
So, how can you catch all the action? In Australia, tune into Seven/7Plus. For our European viewers, HBOMax/Eurosport has you covered. UK fans can watch on TNT Sports/Discovery+, and for those in the USA, it's NBC Sports/Peacock.
Let's dive into the stages:
This year's Tour Down Under features three stages, each longer than ever before. The first stage, from Willunga to Willunga, is a whopping 137.4 km, a significant increase from previous years' longest stages of 115 km (2025) and 104.2 km (2024). The final stage is the shortest at 126.5 km, but it's still a challenging distance.
When Escape Collective spoke to the race organizers about the impact of the UCI's new regulations, one of them, Nettie Edmondson, explained that with more WorldTeams participating, they could create longer and more demanding courses. In 2023 and 2024, only one of the three stages exceeded 100 km.
Stage 1: Saturday, January 17 - Willunga to Willunga (137.4 km)
Don't be fooled by the name or the race profile; this opening stage is tailor-made for the punchy sprinters. While it's not a pure sprinter's course, riders like Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) should excel. The peloton will tackle the base of Willunga Hill three times and finish with a climb of 600 meters, but with an average gradient of only 3.2%, it won't favor the GC favorites.
Are you excited for the Tour Down Under? Who do you think will dominate this year's race? Let's discuss in the comments and share your predictions!
