With overseas travel restrictions due to COVID-19 preventing the easy entry of overseas teams and riders into Australia, the Tour Down Under was run as the Festival of Cycling in 2021 and 2022, with a National Road Series level race as the premier road event.
The altered event also featured a further five cycling disciplines and fan activities including the City of Adelaide Festival Village.
The full glitz and glamour of the WorldTour will return with the Tour Down Under in 2023, with race director Stuart O’Grady heralding the renewal of the event.
“I can say emphatically and with great excitement that we are ready,” O’Grady said.
O’Grady is currently spending four weeks in Europe, meeting with many of the teams set to compete at the next Santos Tour Down Under – and who have missed kick-starting their season in South Australia.
“Elite cyclists love starting their seasons in South Australia and the amazing welcome they receive from fans here. For many of the teams, the Santos Tour Down Under is their favourite race experience of the year,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing familiar faces who we haven’t seen in South Australia since the 2020 Santos Tour Down Under, as well as riders who are experiencing the event for the first time.”
In 2020, according to government statistics, the Tour Down Under attracted 44,800 visitors from interstate and overseas, injecting $66.4 million into the South Australian economy and creating the equivalent of 742 full-time jobs.
The event will continue to be called the Santos Tour Down Under after chief sponsor Santos, and will be held in Adelaide and regional South Australia from 13-22 January 2023. There has been no confirmation of what level the women’s race will be, the race was last contested as ProSeries event, the level down from Women’s WorldTour level, with equal prizemoney as the men’s winners.
