Nuriootpa-Angaston leg of Tour Down Under may be cancelled due to fire threat

FIRES raging in the Barossa Valley are threatening to cancel the Stage one Nuriootpa-Angaston leg of the Santos TDU on Tuesday.

THE Santos Tour Down Under is under threat of being cancelled on Tuesday because of fires raging at Eden Valley near Angaston - the stage one finish line in the Barossa.

Whether the Nuriootpa-Angaston stage one goes ahead is reliant on advice from the Country Fire Authority.

But the Eden Valley fire - on the edge of the Barossa Valley where an estimated five homes had been lost on Saturday - has posed a high risk factor not only for the peloton but for the entire community, says Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur.

Turtur said the organisation would make a final decision by 5pm on Monday.

"It's a serious situation,'' Turtur said.

"Firstly our thoughts are with the people affected by this fire and also the people on the ground fighting.

"Our first concerns from a race point of view, we're taking regular updates from authorities for what's happening there and it will be monitored up until a day before the race.

"We'll make a decision and get advice from the appropriate authorities

"If it's a no go zone for the Barossa, then it's a no go zone.

"Possibly a cancellation of the stage.

"Any activity that's deemed to be dangerous then obviously you can't ask people to go into the area."

Turtur declared the stage will not be rescheduled if it's called off meaning the race for the first time in its 16-edition history will be reduced to five stages.

Monday's second stage of the women's Santos Cup also under threat of being cancelled given racing is also in Angaston.

The fire ground at Eden Valley, taken from Barossa Helicopters.

Firefighters on Friday night were forced defend Angaston, as the Eden Valley fire raced towards the historic township.

The Tour Down Under's peloton passes through Angaston three times during the 135km stage with temperatures expected to hover around 30C.

The CFS on Saturday morning issued a warning.

"CFS advises that a serious bushfire is burning at Eden Valley in the Southern Barossa Valley.

"Fire conditions have remained favourable over the recent hours and the forward rate of spread has been largely halted.

"Whilst there is not an imminent risk to lives, weather conditions are erratic and some breakaways are still occurring.

"It is expected that fire behaviour will increase in the coming hours as temperatures increase."

A "catastrophic" fire danger warning was issued by the Country Fire Authority on Wednesday during the height of SA's heatwave where temperatures exceeded 40C plus for five days before a cool change on Friday night.