TDU 2023 ushers in historic new era for women’s cycling

One small detail that many may have missed about this year’s Tour Down Under has the Aussie cycling community seriously excited.

It was at breakfast where the gravity of the women’s Tour Down Under’s elevation to WorldTour status really sank in for young gun cyclist Keely Bennett.

“It’s crazy that I get to ride against some of the girls that I have idolised my whole cycling journey,” the 20-year-old team BridgeLane rider from Melbourne said.

“Being able to eat breakfast with them was awesome and it’s just awesome that we have some of the best riders in the world riding in our home country.”

On, Sunday, January 15, the women’s TDU will return after a Covid imposed hiatus.

It’s a historic moment and tipped to have far-reaching ramifications for female cycling in Australia.

This year the women’s TDU becomes the first race on the UCI WorldTour calendar in the southern hemisphere.

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race later this month will follow suit.

It means that, from here on in, many of the best female riders in the world will have the TDU in their sights to kick off their seasons.

Your ultimate guide to the Santos Tour Down Under 2023

Former Commonwealth Games and Australian champion Katey Bates said this would have a huge impact on women’s cycling in the country.

“One of the problems that has faced Australians, especially those in the women’s development pathway, is that there is such a huge leap for Aussie women from the national series to the WorldTour or anything like it,” she said.

Keely Bennett and Lillee Pollock of Australia and Team Bridgelane. Picture: Tim de Waele

“When Australia didn’t have a WorldTour race, it left that pathway pretty long.

“But now we have that there is quite a direct link for them.

“And there is a little bit of the adage that if you can see it you can be it so the young riders a very big goal for them now is to ride the Tour Down Under.

“And before it didn’t have that weight, it was a cool thing to do, but it didn’t really shorten the long and winding route to pro status for them.”

Bates, also the host of the Wheelhouse podcast, said it would also get local riders a higher profile and better access to professional teams, most of which are European based.

“A real good example is Isabelle Carnes (riding for ARA Skip Capital) who is a youngster from Brisbane and she is the youngest female riders in the race and she is one of Australia’s brightest talents, she is incredible on the road and on the track,” she said.

“Without a WorldTour race she wouldn’t have that opportunity to get that direct attention from the big teams.

“So for riders like her it could be a game changer for her career.”

It would also benefit more established riders, she said.

“I also think with some of our older more developed riders there’s just the pure reality around things like qualification for the Olympics,” she said.

“When you are qualifying for Olympics, nations earn points and they determine how many spots the nation gets at the Olympic Games.

“And for Australia we have always been on a bit of the backfoot.

“We have really only had points being earned by women on the WorldTour in Europe but really the representation from Australia has never been as strong as other countries.

“So to have a WorldTour race in Australia, it is not just your big names like Amanda Spratt, Grace Brown or Brodie Chapman, more riders can earn points for the nation and catapult the nations ranking.

Amanda Spratt of Australia and Team BikeExchange Jayco crosses the finish line during the 25th Simac Ladies Tour 2022 in Landgraaf, Netherlands. Picture: Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images

“It’s really far reaching actually.”

Bates said the addition of the TDU to WorldTour status would also help cycling compete with sports such as footy, netball and cricket for female talent.

Bennett and her team BridgeLane compatriot Lillee Pollock can’t wait to test themselves against some of the best riders in the world.

Crowd-funded into existence last year the women’s team BridgeLane is a UCI Continental team - the level down from WorldTour status.

But young Australian talent such as Bennett and Pollock get the chance to show their stuff on the big stage following the TDU’s elevation.

“I think it is quite hard for a lot of the Australian women to get overseas a lot of the time and get the support to get there so having this opportunity of a WorldTour race in Australia just opens up more opportunities for riders to be noticed and developed and put their name out there against some of the best,” Pollock, 19, said.

This year’s TDU launches a new era for riders like Alexandra Manly and Amber Pate. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Over the next three days young riders such as Bennett and Pollock will get a valuable experience that they hope can help them achieve their dreams.

“It will develop skills and riding in a European bunch is a lot different to the Australian racing we do so that change will be big,” Bennett said.

Further down the ladder in Australian cycling, more infrastructure is being established to support young female athletes.

In South Australia a junior women’s cycling team, PMA GUESTPIX, has been launched to capitalise on the growing popularity of the sport and provide opportunities for young girls.

Team Director David Hartland said most girls didn’t get a chance to join a team until they were in their late teens or early 20s, while there were a lot more options for boys.

“My daughter is aged 11 and for her, that’s a lifetime away but with the new team, the gap is shorter,” he said.

“These junior women in their professional kit who are closer to her age are the perfect role models for her and a new generation of riders, inspiring them to take up cycling.”

Originally published as TDU 2023 ushers in historic new era for women’s cycling