TDU boss Stuart O’Grady to reveal new national competition after race cancellation
Details of a competition to replace the TDU will be revealed in weeks after coronavirus shut the world out of the international drawcard.
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South Australians are putting on a brave face and refocusing their sights on a smaller, domestic cycling festival after the cancellation of the 2021 Tour Down Under due to the coronavirus.
The Adelaide Hills Council, which traditionally hosts major sections of the TDU, said Events South Australia had done a tremendous amount of planning to make a safe event.
“Though we are disappointed, we fully support their decision not to hold the event in January” deputy mayor Nathan Daniell said.
“Although an international event is off the table, we look forward to working with them on a new, reimagined domestic event.”
Premier Steven Marshall said that despite the cancellation of the UCI World Tour race, a replacement TDU national event could still be a “festival of cycling” with “strong government support’’.
He vowed the 2022 race would go ahead.
“This is always an absolute favourite on the sporting and tourism fixture,” he said.
Mr Marshall also moved to calm an increasingly gloomy mood over the future of SA events, but stressed international cycling teams had found the race not viable.
He said details of a national cycling competition – organised by TDU boss Stuart O’Grady – would be announced “within weeks”, and was expected to attract a significant number of interstate visitors.
Expected losses to the economy from the cancellation would not be known until the size of the replacement event using Australian cyclists was known, Mr Marshall said.