The Santos Tour Down Below, a part of the UCI World Tour, launches the brand new worldwide season in South Australia (17-22 January).
Australia’s best biking race takes within the leafy wine nation and Port Willunga’s lovely seashore, in addition to testing the peleton with the summit of Mount Lofty.
Followers are in for a deal with proper from the beginning, with Adelaide’s centre enjoying host for a prologue brimming with extremely technical racing.
The quintet of Rohan Dennis, ex-Tour de France winner Caleb Ewan, Jai Hindley, Michael Matthews, Ben O’Connor will likely be flying the flag for Australia.
Dennis (Jumbo-Visma staff) is a former winner of the race. He might wrestle on among the steeper inclines however tends to carry out effectively in shorter stage races.
South African Daryl Impey (Israel-Premier Tech), one other previous champion of this race, is among the many main contenders to succeed total.
Impey’s team-mates embrace Melbourne’s Tour de France stage winner Simon Clarke, dash specialists Italian Giacomo Nizzolo and up-and-coming New Zealander Corbin Sturdy.
Australian nationwide champion Luke Plapp, France’s Hugo Hofstetter, Spain’s Pello Bilbao, Switzerland’s Marc Hirschi plus the Nice Britain trio of Ethan Hayter, Simon Yates and former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will even be chasing prime honours.
Though the chances have but to be launched, those that fancy a flutter can take a look at main bookmakers akin to PlayUp Australia nearer to the date to see which riders are among the many favourites to problem for the yellow jersey at every of the 5 phases.
EFEX Prologue (Adelaide-Adelaide) | 5.5km, 17 January
Dennis, the previous world time trial champion, is an area hero and will likely be attempting to make an early influence alongside the Adelaide Riverbank route.
The inaugural yellow and dash jerseys are up for grabs alongside a course that features Battle Memorial Drive, MacKinnon Parade, Bundeys Highway and Victoria Drive.
Stage One (Tanunda-Tanunda) | 149.9km, 18 January
The peloton passes via Tanunda 4 occasions, every with a class 4 climb of Menglers Hill earlier than the stage end. The king of the mountain (KOM) factors will likely be collected at 58.2km and 110.4km.
All eyes will likely be on the sprints, with a pair of sprints in Tanunda on the 45.6km and 97.8km marks.
Travelling via Bethany on Barossa Valley Approach earlier than attempting to blitz the road in Murray Avenue ought to have the followers ringing their cowbells loudly.
Stage Two (Brighton-Victor Harbor) | 154.8km, 19 January
Starting in beachside Brighton earlier than sprints at Aldinga’s Snapper Level (33.6km) and Yankalilla (71.7km), riders will descend into Victor Harbor.
With nearly 2,500 metres of climbing, the KOMs are a class two ascent at Parawa Hill (87.2km) and class one at Nettle Hill Highway (133.9km) earlier than the ultimate push to the Esplanade in Victor Harbor.
Stage Three (Norwood-Campbelltown) | 116.8km, 20 January
Following an easy begin in Norwood, the peloton navigates the class two Ashton climb (9.6km).
Sprints happen via Lobethal (29km) and Williamstown (64km), with KOM factors from the brutal class one ascents of Checker Hill (82.2km) and Corkscrew Highway (111km). There will likely be a race to cross the end line in Campbelltown.
Stage 4 (Port Willunga-Willunga Township) | 133.2km, 21 January
Port Willunga is a picturesque place to begin earlier than the race via McLaren Vale’s vineyards.
As a substitute of ascending the slopes of Willunga Hill like different races, the peloton tackles a route that takes in McLaren Vale wineries d’Arenberg and Penny’s Hill.
The pair of KOM ascents each happen in Willunga at 51.4km and 92.3km respectively. The penultimate stage’s sprints are scheduled for Aldinga’s Snapper Level on the 69.5km and 110.4km marks.
Riders face a barely uphill push to the road on the principle road of Willunga, with followers handled to some aggressive racing.
Stage 5 (Unley-Mount Lofty) | 112.5km, 22 January
Riders will depart the inner-south suburb of Unley to journey in direction of Satan’s Elbow, adopted by 4 passes of 25km that loop via the Adelaide Hills.
The pair of sprints happen alongside Greenhill Highway in Uraidla at 15.3km and 67km respectively.
Mount Lofty makes its maiden introduction to the Santos Tour Down Below race, with the peloton battling it out for KOM factors in entrance of Mount Lofty Home at 33.8km and 86.8km.
The finale alongside Mount Lofty Summit Highway ought to see followers out in droves to cheer the peloton alongside, and witness first hand who will declare the primary yellow jersey to get the brand new UCI WorldTour season off in fashion.
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