Tour Down Under 2026 routes: The Adelaide and SA roads set to become major race routes, start and finish lines

Wondering where to watch and what to avoid driving in the great race? Here’s all you need to know about 2026’s TDU routes.

3 min read

July 20, 2025 - 5:30AM

Sunday Mail (SA)

SA News

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The 2026 Tour Down Under will be turned on its head next year with new routes for both men’s and women’s races described as the most exciting ever.

Multiple ascents of famed climbs the Corkscrew and Willunga Hill will lead to a thrilling finale of the men’s race with organisers replacing the traditional city sprint stage for an eight-lap world championship-style course around Stirling on the last day.

And the race will also open with a prologue for just the second time ever, taking riders from the city to Victoria Park in a race against the clock.

The women’s race is expected to be equally as challenging with the longest ever tour (395km) featuring new start locations in Willunga, Norwood and Magill and predicted fireworks with two climbs up Corkscrew Road on the final day.

TDU race director Stuart O'Grady at Montefiore Hill with the bike he rode to win the 1999 race. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It is also expected to be the first time in history all 15 women’s WorldTeams will be on the start line in Adelaide alongside the 18 men’s WorldTour teams.

While the complete program is yet to be finalised, the 10-day festival will open with a teams presentation in Victoria Square on January 16.

Race Director Stuart O’Grady said feedback from teams and riders was they wanted a more attacking race to open the UCI WorldTour season.

“So we have brought the prologue back which creates an opportunity for riders targeting the ochre jersey to take time from the very first day,” O’Grady said.

“And I’m sure the atmosphere from the city to Victoria Park will rival any time trial anywhere in the world.

“We’ve also added some new challenges like two climbs up Corkscrew Road that will be a real GC shaker, and the final day has moved from a sprint-friendly stage in the city to a really hard circuit around Stirling where anything could happen.

“The peloton will do eight laps of a 21km circuit with plenty of short, punchy climbs which means the race for the ochre jersey could go down to the very last kilometre.”

Assistant Race Director Carlee Taylor said the level of women’s racing at the TDU continued to improve every year.

“So from day one of the season we start with our longest ever women’s stage with 137km in Willunga which will be a great spectacle,” she said.

“Stage 2 is our first ever start in Magill followed by an uphill finish in Paracombe which is sure to create some fireworks and suit the all-rounders.

“But the most exciting addition to the race is Stage 3 which starts in Norwood for the first time and includes two climbs up Corkscrew Road, the second ascent coming 5km before the finish in Campbelltown so we expect that to be very popular among spectators and the riders.”

Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said interstate and overseas cycling fans could now book their annual holidays to South Australia.

“Earlier this year we celebrated the event’s 25th birthday which saw approximately 807,900 people attending the event, helping generate $62.5 million for the state’s economy,” she said.

“Now we want to take that momentum into next year where once again the eyes of the world will be on South Australia for 10 days when we host the biggest bike race in the southern hemisphere.”