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SA mayors acknowledge challenge of hosting 2021 Tour Down Under, but hope it goes ahead

Community leaders of the areas visited by Tour Down Under riders hope the 2021 event will still proceed despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Unley Mayor Michael Hewiston said as overseas events such as the Tour de France and Italy’s Giro d’Italia had been staged, “now we would like to see the Tour Down Under run”. Picture: Sarah Reed
Unley Mayor Michael Hewiston said as overseas events such as the Tour de France and Italy’s Giro d’Italia had been staged, “now we would like to see the Tour Down Under run”. Picture: Sarah Reed

Tour Down Under officials are locked in a race against time to secure one of the state’s major event jewels, as community leaders expressed hope it could be staged.

The Advertiser on Wednesday reported how January’s cycling event was in doubt because of COVID-19 quarantine and crowd limits.

But as an infectious overseas traveller, a woman in her 60s, was confined to the Pullman Adelaide hotel on Wednesday, authorities and community leaders of tour areas expressed hope of a resolution. A decision is expected within days.

Unley Mayor Michael Hewiston said as overseas events such as the Tour de France and Italy’s Giro d’Italia had been staged, “now we would like to see the Tour Down Under run”.

“We und­erstand the need for COVID protection but it’s the sort of event that can be flexibly applied, and we’d love to see it go ahead,” he said.

Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said while it was “highly frustrating”, the public had accepted the virus had changed life. “We are bound by what’s happening in the rest of the world,” he said.

Adelaide Hills deputy mayor Nathan Daniell said the council was helping TDU officials. “We’re fully aware of the difficult circumstances event organisers are facing,” he said.

“We have been working closely with them to ensure the best possible outcome, not only for our community, but for everyone involved.”

The peloton makes its way out of Lobethal in the 2020 Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed
The peloton makes its way out of Lobethal in the 2020 Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed

Mount Barker District Council declined to comment due to a TDU “embargo”.

Police Commissioner and state COVID-19 co-ordinator Grant Stevens said officers could “quarantine” riders while they were on the road and that this would not be a drain of police resources.

“I think it is a good event for South Australia. It is one that so many (people) whether they are interested in cycling or not really enjoy, and we will be doing our part to ensure it can happen,” he said. An SA Health spokeswoman said: “We’re continuing to work with the organisers of the Tour Down Under to ensure that if the event goes ahead, it is managed in a COVID-safe way.

“As with any event, we need to work through all the logistics and planning, particularly around quarantine arrangements, to make sure the (public) health and safety is not compromised.”

Events SA executive director Hitaf Rasheed was unavailable for comment. But she told ABC Radio preparations were a “challenge”.

“We are working as hard as we can and leaving no stone unturned,” she said.

SA’s 12 infectious patients bring SA’s case number to 495.

Originally published as SA mayors acknowledge challenge of hosting 2021 Tour Down Under, but hope it goes ahead

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tourdownunder/sa-mayors-acknowledge-challenge-of-hosting-2021-tour-down-under-but-hope-it-goes-ahead/news-story/a799b89eec318d755a3e0da233ca6454