Santos Festival of Cycling in January 2021
The Santos Tour Down Under has announced a new and reimagined event for 2021 in South Australia with the Santos Festival of Cycling taking place from Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 January.
The Santos Festival of Cycling, presented by the Santos Tour Down Under will be a 6-day domestic cycling festival which is set to delight both cycling enthusiasts and festival goers, and will include a variety of cycling disciplines, including Road, Track, Paracycling, BMX, Mountain Bikes and Cyclo-Cross.
The program will kick off with the Adelaide Track Event at the Gepps Cross Superdrome followed by a 4-stage National Road Series (NRS) race with Men’s and Women’s stages held on the same day, showcasing the Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu regions. Program details for Paracycling, Track, Cyclo-Cross, Mountain Bike, and BMX are set to be rolled out over the coming weeks.
As part of the Festival’s COVID Management plan, selected events will be ticketed which will include limited-capacity entry for the road race start and finishes. A free ticket will be required to access both race starts and finish locations and will be available from Monday 14 December at the Santos Tour Down Under website.
Where tickets become exhausted, cycling fans will be encouraged to find one of our wonderful vantage points and use alternative locations on the routes to enjoy the race in a COVID-safe and socially distanced way. Tickets for other selected riding and festival events will be announced in due course.
In a time that has been particularly challenging for South Australians, Premier Steven Marshall said that he is thrilled that South Australia can deliver an event program to start the 2021 cycling season.
“South Australia has a strong track record in delivering world class events, which create jobs and deliver substantial economic benefit to the state. To be able to pivot, innovate, and deliver a high calibre event, in a new COVID-normal environment, for all Australians to enjoy is particularly exciting,” said Premier Marshall.
For the first time the Challenge Tour will go digital in collaboration with FulGaz, with further details being announced soon, along with an exciting festival program and calendar of events.
Santos Managing Director and CEO, Kevin Gallagher said, “Santos is pleased to continue to support and partner on initiatives that make a positive contribution to the South Australian community and we look forward to enjoying a great summer of cycling.”
The Inclusion of other cycling disciplines of Cyclo-Cross, BMX, Track, Paracycling and Mountain Biking is another considered element of the festival, which in collaboration with newly formed national body, Aus Cycling, will celebrate the inclusion of all cycling disciplines under one new national banner.
South Australian Tourism Commission Executive Director of Events South Australia, Hitaf Rasheed said the Santos Festival of Cycling has been designed to bring visitors from across Australia and South Australia to the City of Adelaide and regional communities during January.
“It is important to now look forward and do what we can to celebrate Adelaide and our beautiful regions, support our local businesses and communities, showcase what is great about our state and keep the heart beating in South Australia this summer.”
The Santos Festival of Cycling will continue to work closely with SA Health, SAPOL, participating teams and major stakeholders to deliver an exciting event that has the priority of the health and safety of South Australians, our communities and the cycling fraternity.
Event program details for all cycling disciplines, as well as festival events and ticketing information, at tourdownunder.com.au. More updates to come.
2021 Santos Festival of Cycling NRS race routes summary:
• Thursday 21 January: Ziptrak Stage 1 – Seppeltsfield to Tanunda (Men: 106.8km / Women 80.7km)
• Friday 22 January: Stage 2 – Birdwood to Lobethal (Men: 116km / Women 97.3km)
• Saturday 23 January: Be Safe Be Seen Stage 3 – McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill (Men: 88.2km / Women 48.8km)
• Sunday 24 January: Trek Stage 4 – Victoria Park Adelaide (criteriums).