Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Santos Tour Down Under?

The Santos Tour Down Under is the first event on the UCI WorldTour road cycling calendar and takes place each January. 

The UCI WorldTour is the competition that the highest level of world cycling, and the Santos Tour Down Under is the first event in the southern hemisphere to be elevated to this level. 

 It is not only a world-class, international event but an 11-day festival celebrating all things cycling and the state of South Australia. The Santos Tour Down Under offers something for everyone.

What does UCI stand for?

UCI stands for Union Cycliste Internationale or International Cycling Union. The UCI is the world governing body for cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland.

The UCI issues racing licenses to riders and enforces disciplinary rules. The UCI also manages the classification of races and the points ranking system in various cycling disciplines including mountain biking, road and track cycling. This applies to both men and women at amateur and professional levels. The UCI also oversees the World Championships.

What is the UCI WorldTour?

The UCI WorldTour brings together the world’s greatest road races, including the biggest stage races of the sport: the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. 

The quality of the sporting show is guaranteed thanks to the participation of the best teams – and therefore the best riders – in all the UCI WorldTour events. All UCI WorldTeams will participate in all the events on this calendar.

Three rankings (individual, teams and nations) are calculated at the end of each UCI WorldTour event and published at the end of the event.

Who is the Race Director of the Santos Tour Down Under?

Mike Turtur is the Santos Tour Down Under's Race Director. He has a strong history with cycling as an Olympic Gold Medallist (1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Track Cycling, Team Pursuit) and has held this role since the inception of the race in 1999.

Kimberley Conte is the Santos Women's Tour Down Under Race Director. 

When is the Santos Tour Down Under held?

The Santos Tour Down Under is held annually, typically in the third week of January. 

The next event will be held from 16-26 January 2020.

Why is the Santos Tour Down Under held at this time of year?

It is held at this time of year as this is the timeslot allocated to the event by the UCI. Being held in January makes the event the first of the UCI WorldTour calendar each year.

In what year was the first Santos Tour Down Under held?

The first Santos Tour Down Under was held in January 1999.

Who competes in the Santos Tour Down Under?

All UCI WorldTour teams must compete in the Santos Tour Down Under. These teams, along with the national UniSA-Australia team, make up the Santos Tour Down Under peloton. Each team has seven riders.

Under what guidelines is the Santos Tour Down Under staged?

The Santos Tour Down Under is sanctioned by the UCI and is staged according to the UCI WorldTour guidelines.

How many jerseys are awarded in the Santos Tour Down Under?

The Santos Tour Down Under awards four jerseys throughout the race.

Read more about the different jerseys.

What colour is the leader's jersey?

The Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest cumulative time at the end of each stage and to the overall winner at the end of the race. 

The ochre colour, introduced in 2006, is strongly associated with Australia and is unique to the Santos Tour Down Under.

How many stages are there in the Santos Tour Down Under?

There are six stages in the Santos Tour Down Under, which are preceded by the People's Choice Classic. Read more about the race stages.

What is the Down Under Classic and why is it held?

The Down Under Classic is a closed circuit road race. It is held as a preview to the six stages of the Santos Tour Down Under. Riders do not receive UCI points in this circuit race.

Where can I buy Santos Tour Down Under merchandise?

Official Santos Tour Down Under merchandise is available for purchase online before the event, onsite during the event at the City of Adelaide Tour Village and at all start and finish locations.

How can I get involved in the Santos Tour Down Under?

There are many ways to get involved in the Santos Tour Down Under and the Santos Festival of Cycling. Check out the associated events happening around South Australia, ride in the Breakaway Series, volunteer as part of the team that puts on this great event, or rub shoulders with the pros at the Legends’ Night Dinner.

Can I ride my bike and be a part of the Santos Tour Down Under?

Yes! 

The Subaru Breakaway Series lets riders of all ages and abilities ride an exclusive part of the Santos Tour Down Under race routes.

The Challenge Tour presented by The Advertiser lets you ride a full stage or part of the official Stage 4 route.

If you have a junior champion who wants to join in, the mini tour for kids lets children aged 6-12 years old ride a section of the pro route.

There is also the Family Ride where you can get the family together and ride the route ahead of the race.

Can I volunteer to be a part of the Santos Tour Down Under?

Volunteers play a vital part in the running of the Santos Tour Down Under. 

Joining the Santos Tour Down Under team as a volunteer is a great way to experience an international sporting event first hand. We have all sorts of roles on offer - there's sure to be something that suits you! 

Read more about the volunteer opportunities available.

Will the Santos Tour Down Under be shown on television?

Yes, the Santos Tour Down Under will be shown on television in Australia and around the world. 

Broadcast times are published on the Santos Tour Down Under website when confirmed.

Who owns the Santos Tour Down Under?

The Santos Tour Down Under is owned and managed by the Government of South Australia on behalf of all South Australians.

How is the Santos Tour Down Under funded?

The Santos Tour Down Under is partially funded by the South Australian Government, with all other revenue generated through corporate partnerships, valued event sponsors and sales from associated events.

How much economic benefit does the Santos Tour Down Under generate for South Australia?

The 2019 Santos Tour Down Under generated a record $70.7 million in economic benefit for South Australia. The event created approx. 837 full time equivalent jobs.

How many spectators and visitors attend the Santos Tour Down Under?

The 2019 Santos Tour Down Under attracted 805,000 spectators and a record 48,000 event-specific visitors. Event-specific visitors are those visitors who have traveled to South Australia from interstate and overseas specifically to attend the Santos Tour Down Under.

How does the Santos Tour Down Under decide where to go?

Twelve months of planning, negotiations, operational logistics and technical racing requirements by the race director and event team determine where the Santos Tour Down Under will travel.

How do towns and host councils get involved with future events?

The Santos Tour Down Under welcomes expressions of interest from host councils and regional towns in South Australia interested in being involved with future events. 

Contact the Event Manager from the Santos Tour Down Under team for more information. All towns involved with the Santos Tour Down Under are no more than a 2 hour drive from the city of Adelaide.