Stages, new hill climbs revealed as part of Tour Down Under 2025 race schedule

There’ll be plenty of favourites but also a lot new for the 25th edition of the Tour Down Under, including the debut of a gruelling climb steeper than Willunga Hill.

The rich history of the Tour Down Under will be honoured in the 25th edition of the iconic race, but there will still be plenty of firsts for riders in 2025.

Organisers have unveiled the route for the 2025 edition of the race.

As revealed by The Advertiser, the men’s race will return to a finish in the Adelaide city.

The sprint finish in the city comes after a penultimate stage where riders not only climb the gruelling Willunga Hill twice, but also descend the iconic climb for the first time.

But the 145.7km fifth stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill will not be the hardest climb that riders will encounter.

As part of the third stage – 147.5km from Norwood to Uraidla – a new climb will make its debut.

The 2.65km Knotts Hill/Pound Road climb near Ashton reaches a maximum gradient of 22 per cent and has an average gradient of 8 per cent.

Riders will tackle it twice during the stage, with race director Stuart O’Grady excited about the new climb.

“I think it is just as difficult as Willunga Hill,” he said.

“To bring another climb into the race is exciting.

“It took a fair bit of work. Mike Turtur, the previous race director, and myself had really been scouring the Hills I guess but this was a climb I did when I was a 13-year-old and I thought I would go back and revisit it.

TDU race director Stuart O'Grady at Montefiore Hill with the bike he rode to win the 1999 race. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“And as soon as I went back I realised why we hadn’t been there before because it is such a difficult time and quite a technical entrance to the climb so it could be a real pressure point and quite a big stage in the general classification.”

The men’s race will begin with a 150.7km stage from Prospect to Gumeracha, the first time the TDU will finish there.

Stage 2 is in Tanunda, but while previous stages there have been for the sprinters the 2025 edition will go the other, and steeper, way up Mengler Hill meaning it could be one for the breakaway.

Last year’s race winner British rider Stephen Williams, the Israel Premier Tech team, celebrates on the podium after the final stage. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AFP

After the testing third stage from Norwood to Uraidla, riders tackle a 157.2km course from Glenelg to Victor Harbor with the route causing plenty of drama in 2023.

It will then set up the general classification to be decided atop Willunga Hill, before the race finishes with a bang in the city.

O’Grady said there was a big focus on paying homage to the history of the race for its 25th edition.

“When I was putting stages together I was really trying to really acknowledge the 1999 edition,” he said.

“Trying to give a real nod to that history, while at the same time trying to bring in some new locations and a new climb as well.

The Tour Down Under peloton in the Adelaide Hills during last year’s race. Picture: Morgan Sette

“Trying to have that mix of old and new for the 25th edition.”

The women’s race is set to be one for the ages, with three stages that could result in three different race leaders.

Brighton hosts its first start of a women’s TDU with the peloton then to cycle 101.9km to Aldinga.

After its inclusion in last year’s race, Willunga Hill looms on stage 2 twice for riders on the 115km route from Unley to the top of the hill.

The race will then be decided on a circuit beginning and finishing in Stirling, with the route in the Adelaide Hills going to make things very interesting.

O’Grady said the stages would make it a fascinating race.

“It is a really difficult course that last stage around Stirling,” he said.

“The men have tackled it on numerous occasions before and you could race that 50 times and have 50 different winners.

“So it is really going to open up the race and make it really aggressive and entertaining.”

In another nod to the past, the Down Under Classic will return to Adelaide’s East End.