The Tour Down Under is not just another bike race that attracts only a handful of participants or spectators. It is much more than that. This race is actually a major festival of cycling that includes a wide range of events. The Tour Down Under is a massive party that takes place all across South Australia. This event has become so popular it is even going international. Singapore will be the next stop. Many cyclists fly from Australia to Singapore just to join in on the festivities.
The entire South Australia region participates in this event, mainly because the bike race goes through many different regions of South Australia. The race usually begins and ends with awesome Adelaide city street circuits, while stages 1-5 are held throughout regional South Australia.
There is always plenty of action going on for the onlookers, but they do not have to just sit still. Skoda Breakaway Series allows amateur cyclists to compete in, and this offers cyclists the chance to race like a champion and take part in some of the Pro Tour race’s route.
1999 is when the first race was held, and since then it has grown to be the largest cycling race in all of the southern hemisphere. The Tour joined the UCI Pro Tour back in 2008 too. This was the first event outside of Europe to do this.
Top Pro Tour professional cycling teams now make their way down to the week-long event that takes place every January. The teams compete for UCI Pro Tour points, as well as the Tour Down Under’s Ochre Leaders Jersey.
This event reached another major mile when Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor and cycling legend, made his triumphant return to professional racing at the 2009 TDU.
Throughout the event’s eleven year history, there has been some of the best cyclists competing in the race, such as Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre. All of these cyclists have competed in Adelaide, racing side-by-side with Aussie legends Robbie McEwen, Stuart O’ Grady, Cadel Evans and Allan Davis. Stuart O’Grady and Andre Greipel are the only two people who have ever won the race twice, which is an impressive accomplishment.
The event always kicks off every single January, and is held on the third Tuesday of the month. Cyclists fans can expect to see the top cyclists in Australia competing in the race, and they can usually expect to see some of the top cyclists in the world competing in the race. This is because cyclists from all over the world come to compete in this incredible event.