Willunga Hill removed from Tour Down Under due to wildfire risk

The queen stage of the Santos Tour Down Under is undergoing major changes due to extreme heat in Australia. Willunga Hill, the absolute decisive climb, has been completely removed from Saturday's fourth stage. The finish is now lower down in the town of Willunga.

In the Mount Lofty Ranges region, maximum temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius are expected on Sunday. This creates a threat of bushfires in the area. After consultation between emergency services, riders, and the UCI, it was decided to shorten the penultimate stage of the Santos Tour Down Under.

Finish in Willunga
The start of the stage, which has also been moved forward by one hour, remains unchanged. The riders will follow the same route to Willunga. There, the peloton was supposed to climb Willunga Hill three times, finishing on the third ascent.

Now, however, they will bypass the famous hill. The stage will now finish on High Street in the town of Willunga, the same spot where the first stage of the Santos Tour Down Under for women ended. The finale still has a slight uphill gradient but should be manageable for the strong sprinters. For the GC contenders, there is less to gain.

“Although removing the famous Willunga Hill climb is disappointing news for cycling fans, the safety of riders and spectators is always our top priority at this event," says race director Stuart O'Grady in a statement.

Vine and Narváez
The Santos Tour Down Under was already shaping up after the takeover by Jay Vine and Jhonatan Narváez in the second stage, but now UAE Emirates XRG looks even more certain of victory. With Willunga Hill removed, the final weekend consists of relatively straightforward stages, which should pose no threat to Narváez and leader Vine. Narváez appears to be the only rider who can still dethrone teammate Vine if he engages in the time bonus battle. He is currently six seconds behind Vine.