The 2020 Tour Down Under features a list of changes to routes: See what’s new to the routes
For Mike Turtur’s final Tour Down Under as race director since 1999, he’s unveiled the 2020 stage routes, including some regulars, some changes and a whole heap of nostalgia.
A return to Murray Bridge, a start in Woodside for the first time and a finish in Paracombe are among changes to the race routes for the 2020 Santos Tour Down Under.
Unveiling the race routes yesterday, race director Mike Turtur, said the seven-day course starting with the street circuit Classic on Sunday, January 19 and finishing with the Willunga Hill climb on Australia Day, had been designed with both the riders and spectators in mind.
“The design of the race, (that we’re) trying to cater for the sprinters and allrounders is a unique feature of this event,” Turtur said.
“There are three days for both sprinters and allrounders.
“In terms of the overall race, there’s some significant changes, one being a start at Woodside for the first time (for Stage 2).
“It’s a place that we’ve been through many times, but it’s going to host the start of the circuit around town, which will be big for the start of the stage and the return to Stirling for the men, is a significant day for allrounders possibly, depending how hard the race is.
“The Stage 3 finish in Paracombe if you look back through the history, this is the third time we’ve used Paracombe. The last two winners at Paracombe were Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte who both went on and won the race. The difference being from those years to next year’s race is the final stage was not Willunga Hill.
“Although it comes in the middle of the race, it’s going to be a day that shapes the overall classification, the top 10 will be established, with a final day at Willunga, does change things.”
Another change is that Stage 4 will finish in Murray Bridge, which hasn’t been featured in the race for 20 years.
“So a big return for Murray Bridge and that will be an interesting day especially when we come across from Mannum for crosswinds, which can play a big part in the race as we saw in the Tour de France the other day, due to crosswinds, so it’s going to be an interesting day for the Challenge Tour,” Turtur said.
One element that won’t change is the final-day 151.5km Stage 6 McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill climb.
“The final day — think it works beautifully for the race — we woke up for the first time on Sunday morning (last year) now knowing who was going to win the race, there were 10 possibilities and all the feedback we got from teams and riders was just the way they like, with the uncertainty of the stage the climb being the big focal point to determine the winner is always going to be a big asset,” Turtur said.
“I think the change to the final day has been a real winner for the race.”
Turtur said he was confident Daryl Impey — the first rider to win back-to-back Tours Down Under — would be back to defend his title.
The routes for the 2020 Women’s Tour Down Under were also unveiled and race director Kimberley Conte described it as an “opportunistic” four-stage event that runs from Thursday, January 16 until Sunday, January 19.
“For the first time we’re having a finish in Maccelsfield (for Stage 1), which is great for the race and we’re starting for the first time in Murray Bridge (Stage 2).
“Murray Bridge has been part of the women’s race in the past, but this is their first time to host the race for us and a really exciting that will finish in Birdwood that will see a sprint and a finish.”
The 109.1km Stage 3 from Nairne to Stirling will for the first time feature a 1km section of dirt, which Conte said could “really change things up”.
“Every race wants to put something different in … it was actually suggested to us a few years ago,” she said.
“From a race director’s perspective, it’s a little bit heart-stopping, you always wonder will it impact the race? Yes of course, it has potential, but putting that in adds a new dynamic and a new opportunity for the riders.”