Tour Down Under 2024 men’s, women’s route maps released

SA’s greatest race is returning to an iconic climb in January – and part of the state that’s been crying out for visitors after a disastrous 2023 summer.

Simeon Thomas-Wilson

@Simeon_TW

4 min read

June 25, 2023 - 7:09AM

Sunday Mail (SA)

Stuart O'Grady with Tailem Bend Primary School kids Chloe, Stuart and Tylar Fixand Sophia Goodridge. Picture: Keryn Stevens

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Willunga Hill is back, while the Tour Down Under will also go to the state’s river communities as part of the ongoing flood recovery.

TDU race director Stuart O’Grady has revealed the route for the 2024 edition of the race – which will take place from January 12 to January 21.

After Willunga Hill wasn’t part of the 2023 race, O’Grady’s first as race director, the iconic climb returns in the penultimate stage of the 2024 race.

Riders will tackle the punishing 3.72km, 6.99 per cent gradient, climb twice on Stage 5’s 130km route from Christies Beach to Willunga Hill.

A day later the men’s race will finish on Mount Lofty for the second year in a row with a 125km stage from Unley to the iconic mountain to decide proceedings.

“We have brought back Willunga Hill, which will make a lot of fans of Willunga Hill happy,” O’Grady said.

“Not once but twice and at this stage I would dare say that it is the toughest final weekend in Tour Down Under history with two ascensions of Willunga Hill on the Saturday and then tackling Mount Lofty on the Sunday it should make for a real epic weekend.”

O’Grady said the peloton had given him good feedback on the finish at Mount Lofty.

But in 2024 he wanted to make the finish harder.

CLICK THE LINKS TO SEE ALL OF THE 2024 TDU MEN’S MAPS

Tour Down Under 2024 Men’s Classic map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 1 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 2 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 3 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 4 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 5 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Men’s Stage 6 map

“Last year I just wanted to have the focus on Mount Lofty, bringing in that new climb into the event,” he said.

“You need to see how the race unfolds to then start designing that next one and the guys are at that level now where Mount Lofty almost wasn’t hard enough for them.”

The 2024 race starts on January 16 with a 145km stage in the Barossa Valley, set to be one for the sprinters as they take on a course starting and finishing in Tanunda.

It’s then through the Adelaide Hills on the 147km Stage 2 from Norwood to Lobethal, which will feature three cracks at the Fox Creek Climb – a likely launch pad for multiple attacks.

Stage 3 begins in Tea Tree Gully and after 147km the peloton will finish in Campbelltown after a speedy finish down Gorge Road.

O’Grady is extremely excited about Stage 4, 138km from Murray Bridge to Port Elliot.

CLICK THE LINKS TO SEE ALL OF THE 2024 TDU WOMEN’S MAPS

Tour Down Under 2023 Women’s Stage 1 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Women’s Stage 2 map

Tour Down Under 2023 Women’s Stage 3 map

He said starting the stage at Murray Bridge would be a boost for the ongoing flood recovery.

“I thought that was really important to have a stage focused on the Murray River and the relief,” he said.

“We did the same after the (Adelaide Hills) bushfires in 2019 and I think it is really important for the communities to re-engage and get a bit of colour out there and a bit more exposure and publicity and the business dollars are never brushed aside.

“So it is good for the Tour Down Under to be able to go to that area and the thing with the TDU and cycling you are able to explore a lot of areas and I guess that is what makes this even so unique in a way.”

Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley said it would be big for the region for the TDU to come into town.

“We believe this event will attract visitors from far and wide, stimulating our local economy and supporting businesses in the process,” he said.

“In addition to the exhilarating race, hosting the Santos Tour Down Under allows us to highlight the progress we’ve made in flood recovery efforts. We’re proud to demonstrate our resilience and showcase the rejuvenated Murray River, inviting visitors to experience the beauty and recreational opportunities it now offers.”

After starting at Murray Bridge the peloton will travel past Lake Alexandrina and into the Langhorne Creek wine region before a first-time finish at Port Elliot’s stunning Horseshoe Bay.

“I think it will be one of the highlights of the TDU,” O’Grady said.

In the women’s race, riders will vie for the chance to be the first ever Queen of the hill, with the race finishing on Willunga Hill.

“They went up Willunga Hill in the festival of cycling but this is the first time that we have an international queen of the hill,” O’Grady said.

The women’s TDU begins in Hahndorf, with stage 1 a 96km trek to Campbelltown.

Stage 2 begins in Glenelg and 112km later the peloton finishes in Stirling.

While prior to finishing at Willunga Hill, the peloton will set off 103km earlier from the Tour Village in the Adelaide CBD.

“We had a blank canvas and we thought what are the best places that we can have a stage,” O’Grady said.