Tour Down Under unveils longest-ever route for 2027 edition

Tour Down Under race organisers have revealed the route for the January 16-24 festival, delivering what is being billed as the most ambitious edition of the event in its 28-year history.

The six-stage men’s race, running from January 19-24, and the three-stage women’s race, from January 22-24, will overlap for the first time, with the pelotons sharing three stages across the final weekend.

The men will start racing at 10.40am each day, with the women departing approximately 90 minutes later.

The 2027 edition will also be the longest in Santos Tour Down Under history, with the men’s race covering 874km and the women’s race extending to 397.3km.

“Next year’s race will be as close to the holy grail as you can get,” Race Director Stuart O’Grady said.

“You can come to Adelaide and see the best men’s and women’s riders in the world in the one day and on the same stage.

“By having two races out on the roads at the same time, we had to get creative with our course design and I feel there will be a lot more unknowns next January.”

South Australia’s coastline will play a starring role throughout the event, with stage starts and finishes taking place at Henley Beach, Glenelg, Christies Beach and Victor Harbor.

Checker Hill to light up opening day

In a significant departure from tradition, the opening stage on Tuesday, January 19 will immediately favour general classification contenders rather than sprinters.

The 164.9km route from Henley Beach to Gumeracha will feature three ascents of the notoriously steep Checker Hill climb, ensuring the battle for the ochre leader’s jersey begins from day one.

The stage also introduces several race firsts, including crossing the Birkenhead Bridge into Port Adelaide and utilising the popular cycling corridor along Military Road at West Lakes.

While Checker Hill has appeared 15 times in Santos Tour Down Under history, riders have never previously been asked to tackle it more than once in a single stage.

“Things like three ascensions of Checker Hill will spice up the race from day one,” O’Grady said.

The climb’s brutal statistics explain why: 1.13km at an average gradient of 14.2 per cent, kicking up to a maximum of 18.4 per cent.

Barossa returns with uphill sting

Stage two sees the race head to the Barossa region for a 145.6km circuit beginning and ending in Angaston.

The peloton will complete three laps of a 50km circuit through Tanunda, Greenock and Nuriootpa, with three ascents of Menglers Hill and a gradual uphill drag to the finish designed to challenge the sprinters.

While the route profile appears relatively benign, organisers expect the repeated climbs and uphill finish to produce a selective finale.

“Corkscrew Day” promises fireworks

Stage three, from Lobethal to Campbelltown, has already earned the nickname “Corkscrew Day”.

The 166.2km route will feature two ascents of Mount Lofty before riders tackle the legendary Corkscrew Road climb twice in the closing stages.

This year’s edition introduces a subtle but significant change, with riders turning right rather than left at the summit of Corkscrew Road, creating a faster run towards the finish.

“We’re expecting the peloton to hit Corkscrew the first time and then go all in for their second pass,” O’Grady said previously. “This is the big GC shake-up day.”

History to be made between Glenelg and Victor Harbor

Friday’s fourth stage will write a new chapter in professional cycling history.

The men’s Stage 4 and women’s Stage 1 will both cover the identical 144.7km route from Glenelg to Victor Harbor, making the Santos Tour Down Under the first race in the world to stage men’s and women’s races over the same course and distance on the same day.

The pelotons will depart just 90 minutes apart before tackling climbs at Cherry Gardens, Heatherdale, Norsworthy Hill and the decisive Nettle Hill.

“Glenelg has become symbolic for big moments in our women’s race, so it’s fitting that it hosts the start of the first ever men’s and women’s double header,” O’Grady said.

The route concludes with a new finishing approach along the entirety of Victor Harbor’s Esplanade, where organisers expect attacks to fly after the final ascent of Nettle Hill.

New twist on Willunga Hill tradition

Saturday’s fifth stage brings the race to its spiritual home at Willunga Hill, but with a significant twist.

The 116.4km route from Christies Beach introduces a new climb at Coxs Hill before approaching the McLaren Vale and Willunga circuit in the opposite direction to previous years.

Both the men’s and women’s races will tackle Willunga Hill twice before finishing atop the iconic climb.

“A new approach to Willunga Hill on the penultimate day could really change the way that stage is raced,” O’Grady said.

Norwood debuts as final-day start

The final day of racing will also feature a first, with fan favourite Norwood hosting the start of the concluding stage for the first time.

The 136.2km route to Stirling takes riders through the Adelaide Hills via Norton Summit, Birdwood, Mount Torrens, Lobethal, Woodside and Hahndorf, while featuring key climbs at Ashton and Checker Hill, while a final lap of Stirling is expected to attract massive crowds.

The nine-day festival begins on January 16 with the opening of the City of Adelaide Tour Village in Victoria Square, while organisers have confirmed that live broadcast plans, hospitality packages and festival programming details will be announced in the coming months.

RACE DAY 1 – TUESDAY, JANUARY 19

THINK! Road Safety Men’s Stage 1
Henley Beach to Gumeracha
164.9km

RACE DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Men’s Stage 2
Angaston to Angaston
145.6km

RACE DAY 3 – THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 

efex Men’s Stage 3
Lobethal to Campbelltown
166.2km

RACE DAY 4 – FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

Ziptrak Men’s Stage 4 & Women’s Stage 1
Glenelg to Victor Harbor
144.7km

RACE DAY 5 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Men’s Stage 5 & Women’s Stage 2
Christies Beach to Willunga Hill
116.4km

RACE DAY 6 – SUNDAY, JANUARY 24

Men’s Stage 6 & Women’s Stage 3
Norwood to Stirling
136.2km