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You’ ve seen the footage: crowds lining steep mountain roads, charming villages that welcome the world’ s best riders each year. If you’ re a fan of the sport you will have stayed up late, tomorrow’ s bleary eyes a small price to pay for tonight’ s contest. Maybe you have a European holiday in mind, one that includes time at the continent’ s iconic cycling events. Sometimes, though, the best experiences are found closest to home. So it is at the Santos Tour Down Under, Australia’ s premier cycling race: a welcoming, nine-day festival beloved both by elite riders and those who come to watch them compete. This is our nation’ s answer to the Tour de France— the same passionate fans, the same gripping racing, but with a distinctly South Australian flavour.
“ One of the main assets our event has is the state itself,” says race director Mike Turtur.“ South Australia is friendly, accessible and very appealing to visitors, and we have the advantage of beautiful regions within easy reach of Adelaide.”
In 2017 the six-stage Santos Tour Down Under will travel through the Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula before a final city showdown. Its route takes in many of the attractions South Australia is loved for: world-class vineyards and cellar doors; acclaimed eateries, rolling hills, historic towns and sparkling coastline. Best of all, regional stages are no more than 90 minutes from the capital. Fans can make easy journeys to the start line by car or bus, with the more energetic encouraged to travel by bike. Some 795,000 people enjoyed the 2016 Santos Tour Down Under, a figure that includes visitors from across the globe.
“ We’ re very proud that the Santos Tour Down Under invites people to be part of the action,” Turtur says.“ Not only do you watch the best riders, you can really immerse yourself in cycling by joining events like the Bupa Challenge Tour.”
There’ s a full calendar of activities surrounding the Santos Tour Down Under, with many offered by the city and regional councils hosting stage starts and finishes. Fans flock to street parties, relax over long lunches and hop into the saddle themselves for the Bupa Challenge Tour, a participation event that sees around 6,000 amateur cyclists tackle a full or part race stage hours before the professionals take to the route. The Norton Summit Time Trial, Bupa Family Ride and Bupa mini tour for kids are among other ride options, while the Legends’ Night Dinner features cycling royalty.
Turtur, an Olympic gold medallist who’ s been race director since the Santos Tour Down Under began in 1999, says the event is an important one in the international cycling season.
“ It opens the International Cycling Union calendar, status that means we see the best riders and teams compete,” he says.“ Everyone is out to impress— they love leaving the cold of Europe behind and being here where it’ s warm. But they know it’ s no holiday, and with our race offering a mix of sprints and climbs it’ s always interesting to see who prevails.”
The pros might not be taking it easy, but fans certainly are. Whether it’ s on the to-do list or you simply want an excuse to visit SA, the Santos Tour Down Under is for you.
The 2017 Santos Tour Down Under will travel through 73 towns in metropolitan and regional South Australia.
For further information visit www. tourdownunder. com. au
32 touring australia magazine • summer 2017