The Santos Tour Down Under is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a blend of classic routes and fresh additions in 2025. The event, which began in 1999, will kick off with the Women’s WorldTour opener on January 17th.
Women’s Race
The women’s race starts from Brighton and heads towards Aldinga, with a likely sprint finish. On January 18th, the competition moves to the iconic Willunga Hill, where Sarah Gigante showcased a memorable performance in 2024. As race director Stuart O’Grady mentioned, “We saw incredible vulnerability and emotion in so many of the athletes this year, in particular Sarah Gigante as she won up Willunga Hill – a climb that we will see women tackle twice for the first time in 2025.”
The women’s race concludes on January 19th with a challenging lap through Stirling. If the general classification (GC) remains close after Willunga Hill, this stage could alter the overall standings.
Men’s Race
The men’s race will begin with the Down Under Classic criterium in Adelaide’s East End on January 18th. According to O’Grady, “We’ve designed the routes to both challenge the riders and give fans the best possible opportunities to enjoy all the racing action up close.”
Stage 1 on January 21st will take riders from Prospect to Gumeracha, providing an early opportunity for the sprinters. Stages 2 and 3, on January 22nd and 23rd, respectively, will feature the new Pound Road climb, likely to ignite the GC battle. Stage 4 on January 24th heads to Victor Harbor, setting the scene for the decisive stage on January 25th. This stage includes a descent and two ascents of Willunga Hill.
The final stage on January 26th is a sprint-friendly city circuit in Adelaide. This stage pays homage to the race’s history, recalling the first edition in 1999, where 40,000 spectators lined the streets, far exceeding expectations.
Economic Impact and Growth
South Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, highlighted the race’s economic benefits, stating, “The economic benefits this iconic race has brought to the state across its 25 years is outstanding. This year’s race injected more than $87 million into our state’s economy, attracting a total attendance of 770,600 while showcasing South Australia’s regions to millions more around the world through the broadcast.”
Race Schedule
Women’s Race:
– Friday, January 17: Stage 1 from Brighton to Aldinga, 101.9km
– Saturday, January 18: Stage 2 from Unley to Willunga, 115km
– Sunday, January 19: Stage 3 from Stirling to Stirling, 105.9km
Men’s Race:
– Saturday, January 18: Down Under Classic, Adelaide East End, 55km
– Tuesday, January 21: Stage 1 from Prospect to Gumeracha, 150.7km
– Wednesday, January 22: Stage 2 from Tanunda to Tanunda, 128.8km
– Thursday, January 23: Stage 3 from Norwood to Uraidla, 147.5km
– Friday, January 24: Stage 4 from Glenelg to Victor Harbor, 157.2km
– Saturday, January 25: Stage 5 from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill, 147.5km
– Sunday, January 26: Stage 6 in Adelaide, 90km
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