Tour Down Under
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| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | January |
| Region | South Australia |
| English name | Tour Down Under |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI World Tour |
| Type | Stage race |
| Race director | Mike Turtur |
| History | |
| First edition | 1999 |
| Editions | 15 (as of 2013) |
| First winner |  Stuart O'Grady (AUS) |
| Most wins | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) André Greipel (GER) Simon Gerrans (AUS)(2 wins) |
| Most recent |  Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED) |
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in and around Adelaide, South Australia. The race attracts riders from all over the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale highest ranking outside Europe. In 2008 the Tour Down Under became the first UCI ProTour in Australia, and the following year it became the inaugural event of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
Outside of Tour de France, the event attracts the biggest crowds in the world. In 2013, it attracted more than 760,400 people to Adelaide and regional South Australia across eight days, including 40,000 interstate and international visitors who travelled there specifically for the event.
Contents |
History [edit]
List of overall winners [edit]
List of overall women' winners [edit]
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | |
Jenny MacPherson (AUS) |
Tour directors [edit]
- 1999 to present: Mike Turtur.
Course [edit]
The Tour generally features stages surrounding Adelaide, which varies from flat to moderately undulating. There are no large mountains in the area, giving specialist climbers few opportunities to show their particular skills. One notable climb featured involves two laps of Willunga Hill, a 3 km climb at an average gradient of 7.6%.[1] However, it is typical for most tour stages to finish as a bunch sprint. The Tour does not include a time trial, as is typical in early season races and to avoid imposing extra shipping costs on the international teams.
The conditions in South Australia in late January are often very hot. Daily maximum temperatures approaching or exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) are not uncommon.
Jerseys [edit]
Leaders of competitions within the race wear a distinctive jersey.[2]
Current jerseys [edit]
- The Ochre jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest cumulative time at the end of each stage and to the winner at the end. Ochre is associated with Australia and the Tour Down Under is unique in having it for the leader's jersey.
- The Sprint jersey is awarded to the rider with most points and time bonuses awarded to the first three riders across the line at points along the route and at the finish.
- The King of the Mountain jersey is awarded to the rider with most points awarded to the first five riders over climbs.
- The Young rider’s jersey is awarded to the leading rider under 23 at the end of each stage.
- The Most aggressive rider’s jersey is worn by the rider who instigated most attacks, breakaways or helped team-mates to best advantage during the stage.
- The Winning team jersey goes to the team with the lowest cumulative time by its four best riders on each of the six stages.
Be Active Tour [edit]
The Tour Down Under has a companion event, the Be Active Tour. This is one of Australia's fastest growing recreational events, held over the route the professionals race later in the day. The inaugural event in 2003 was known as the Breakaway Tour and attracted more than 600 riders. In 2004 riders increased to 1,400 and the event was known on as the Be Active Tour. The 2005 tour saw more than 1,900 riders leave Salisbury, Williamstown and Angaston in 30 °C (86 °F) to tackle the hills and roads of stage 2. In 2006, riders rode 154 km from Strathalbyn to Yankalilla in temperatures in excess of 40 °C (104 °F). The heat took its toll on riders and a heat policy now exists.
In 2007 the name changed again to Mutual Community Challenge Tour and it was joined by the Mutual Community Fun Tour and Powerade mini-tour for children. The new events are to increase the popularity of the event and attract people who do not ride regularly.[3] In 2010 there were over 8,000 participants.
Records [edit]
Australians Stuart O'Grady (1999 and 2001) and Simon Gerrans (2006 and 2012) as well as German sprinter André Greipel (2008 and 2010) are the only riders to have won the Tour Down Under twice.
In fact, no winner has successfully defended his title.
Women's Criterium Series [edit]
There used to be a women's criterium series of three street circuits. This was sponsored by UniSA and was generally held at the same place as the men's race, or at the end of the men's race.[4]
For the 2011 edition there was a two-race series called the Rendition Homes Santos Women’s Cup.[5]
Traditions [edit]
One tradition of the Tour Down Under is that the fans choose an unknown rider and treat him the way they would a star, by mobbing him at hotels and painting his name on the road. The rider must be a non-English speaking domestique who most likely will not get a start at a major race and will simply act as a bottle carrier.[6] For 2010 that rider was Arthur Vichot of Francaise Des Jeux. For 2011, the rider was Angel Madrazo of Team Movistar.[7] For 2012, the rider was Wouter Mol of Vacansoleil-DCM.[8]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Old Willunga Hill Hill Climb | South Australia, Australia". Cycle2max.com. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
- ^ "Jerseys". 2006 Jabob's Creek Tour Down Under. Archived from the original on 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
- ^ "Mutual Community Challenge Tour". Tour Down Under. Archived from the original on 2007-01-06. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
- ^ Stages and Results | Tour Down Under. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
- ^ Cyclingnews.com.au. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ Port Adelaide CC Forum "Operation: Support Obscure TDU Pro". Retrieved 2010-03-02.
- ^ Port Adelaide CC Forum "Operation: Support Obscure TDU Pro"
- ^ Port Adelaide CC Forum "Operation: Support Obscure TDU Pro"
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tour Down Under |
- Official website
- Palmares at Cycling Archives
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