Women’s Tour Down Under to continue supporting local teams as 2019 route unveiled

THE Tour Down Under is in no rush to upgrade its women’s race to WorldTour status and wants to keep the door for local teams open as long as possible after unveiling the 2019 race route.

Kimberley Conte in Rymill Park on Saturday where the women’s Tour Down Under race director announced the route for the 2019 race. Picture: Bianca De Marchi (AAP).

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THE Tour Down Under is in no rush to upgrade its women’s race to WorldTour status and wants to keep the door for local teams open as long as possible after unveiling the 2019 race route.

The four-stage race will remain a UCI 2.1 ranked event next year meaning state and national teams and riders can race alongside WorldTour outfits on the streets of SA.

After the successful hill-top finish on Mengler Hill in January, the famous climb returns to next year’s race along with stage starts in Hahndorf, Nairne and Nuriootpa.

The final stage will be a criterium on the city’s East End circuit in a curtain-raiser to the men’s People’s Choice Classic and the women’s peloton will again share in equal prizemoney to the men.

Amanda Spratt from team Mitchelton-Scott leads the peloton through Hahndorf during this year’s race. The fourth edition of the race will start in the Hills town on January 10. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Race director Kimberley Conte said the women’s TDU aspired to reach WorldTour status but only when it was ready.

“What that (current race status) provides for us is a fantastic opportunity to support not only some of the best WorldTour riders who come to Adelaide but also our domestic scene,” she said.

“That’s something that people may not understand about a 2.1 race, at that level we still have the chance to showcase our up and coming riders in Australia.

“As a race director you always have a goal to change and grow the race in a lot of different directions and that is absolutely one of our goals, but we will take our time to make we take all the right steps and tick the right boxes to do that.

“We don’t really have a timeline yet, there are some changes happening at the UCI regarding WorldTour cycling for women so we will let that take its course and see where that leads.”

Stages for the fourth edition of the women’s TDU will be:

Stage 1, Thursday, January 10, Hahndorf to Birdwood (112.9km)

Stage 2, Friday, January 11, Nuriootpa to Mengler Hill (116.7km)

Stage 3, Saturday, January 12, Nairne to Stirling (104.5km)

Stage 4, Sunday, January 13, Adelaide East End Circuit (42.5km)

🎥 CHECK IT OUT 🎥

The 2019 @SantosLtd Women's #tourdownunder takes the peloton to some of our favourite places in #adelaide. #seesouthaustralia https://t.co/IdsVK8v6Kf

— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴‍♀️ (@tourdownunder) September 8, 2018

“As a race director no matter where I am or what time of year it is, I’m always looking at where we can put the race,” Conte said.

“Primarily I think about racing first, the route has to honour the riders and the region.

“It was such classic Tour Down Under territory and to be able to ride Mengler Hill and see the names of male and female riders who have attacked up this climb we decided it would be a great place again for a finish.”

Tourism Minister David Ridgway said the women’s TDU would showcase more of regional SA to the world.

“It will be spectacular for the communities, spectacular for the regions and the riders and a great celebration of how important the Tour Down Under is for South Australia’s economy,” he said.

“It’s a world class event and the women’s race elevates it to an even higher standard.”

This year’s race involved 102 riders from 17 teams - 11 of which were international from Denmark, Italy, Great Britain, New Zealand and The Netherlands - and was won by Australian Amanda Spratt.

The men’s TDU will be held from January 13-20 and for the first time will finish with the hill-top stage on Old Willunga Hill. Three-time reigning world champion Peter Sagan is a confirmed starter while organisers are hopeful Richie Porte will debut with Trek-Segafredo in Adelaide.

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Originally published as Women’s Tour Down Under to continue supporting local teams as 2019 route unveiled