Santos Tour Down Under Chooses Prologue and Triple Willunga Hill in 2026

It still feels far away, but in two months the next WorldTour race is already on the calendar. The WorldTour season traditionally kicks off with the Santos Tour Down Under, which in 2026 will take place from January 20 to 25. The route of the Australian stage race has already been announced.

The Santos Tour Down Under will start with a prologue for only the second time in the race’s history. In Adelaide, riders have to race 3.6 kilometers against the clock. The following day features a 120-kilometer stage with start and finish in Tanunda. This stage, which was on the route last year but in reverse order, includes Menglers Hill three times. However, this is the less steep side of the climb. Despite the 1541 meters of elevation gain, this stage still looks mainly like a chance for the sprinters.

The third consecutive stage is much tougher. Right from the start, there’s the climb to Norton Summit (10 km at 4.0%) followed by two ascents of Corkscrew Road (3.3 km at 7.1%). This is where the GC contenders will need to work hard. The third stage also has some hills but still seems primarily suited for the fast men.

Stage four is the queen stage, featuring the iconic Willunga Hill. This climb must be tackled three times in a single day for the first time in the history of the Tour Down Under. The first ascent comes early in the 176-kilometer stage, followed by a long transition phase. In the finale, Richie Porte’s favorite climb must be conquered two more times. The general classification will undoubtedly take its definitive shape afterward, although on Sunday there is still a hilly circuit in Stirling not to be underestimated.

Santos Women’s Tour Down Under
Prior to the men’s race, the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under (January 17-19) will also take place. The three-day race starts hard: on the first day, the women have to climb Willunga Hill three times. The start of stage two is also demanding, as it immediately goes to Norton Summit, but the rest of the day is relatively easy. The finish in Paracombe still slopes gently uphill. The final stage on Monday is again truly for the climbers, as the women have to tackle Corkscrew Road twice.

After the third and final stage, the peloton gets a day of rest, but on Wednesday there is another one-day race in the ProSeries. It’s a flat circuit in Tanunda, where the men will have raced earlier that day. The race is 94 kilometers long.