Australia is on a cycling high after the Worlds in Melbourne and the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under in South Australia is promising to be bigger and more exciting. The Santos Tour Down Under takes place from 16-23 January 2011 is the first UCI pro Tour event of the season with a host of big name riders already confirmed.
The race will retain sections of the 2010 route including Old Willunga Hill and Stirlingas well as new sections, racing east of the River Murray for the first time with a stage from Tailem Bend to Mannum. The Santos Tour races through some of South Australia’s most picturesque countryside and will attract an international viewing audience of 750,000 people with 40,000 visitors coming to the region from interstate and overseas.
Two-time Santos Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel will be returning with his new team Omega Pharma-Lottos to defend his crown. Greipel left HTC-Columbia at the end of last season and will be joined at the 2011 Santos Tour by Australian Adam Hansen.
Seven Time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong will compete at the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under for his third time in his final professional international race. Armstrong launched his comeback to professional cycling at the 2009 Santos Tour Down Under, and returned in 2010 to debut his new team, Team RadioShack. So it is fitting that Armstrong will now give his farewell Adelaide.
Mark Cavendish has also just confirmed and the race will attract an international line-up of stars who are looking for success as this race becomes a more important UCI calender event. It will also give young home grown talent a chance to measure up to the top pros and capture limelight and international attention.
No other teams have been confirmed though excitment is building after the success of the World Road Racing Championships in Geelong and in anticipation of the big guns of cycling competing in South Australia.
With registrations now open for the accompanying Mutual Community Challenge Tour, the race organisers are hoping to break last year’s record participation of 8000 riders.
The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under Stage Preview
Cancer Council Classic: Rymill Park, Adelaide
Sunday 16 January 2011
Start : 6.15pm*
Laps : 30 @ 1.7km
Distance : 51km
Stage 1: Mawson Lakes to Angaston
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Start : 11am
Race Neutral : 1km
Distance : 138km
?koda KOM : Black Top Road, Hillbank (11.6km)
Jayco Sprints : Sandy Creek (45.6km) and Lyndoch (52.2km)
Stage 2 : Tailem Bend to Mannum
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Start : 11am
Race Neutral : 0.7km
Distance : 146km
?koda KOM : Dawesley Hill (64.3km)
Jayco Sprints : Kanmantoo (53.3km) and Mt Pleasant (107.8km)
Stage 3 : Unley to Stirling
Thursday 20 January 2011
Start : 11am
Race Neutral : 10km
Distance : 129km
?koda KOM : Germantown Hill (79.6km)
Jayco Sprints : McLaren Flat (31.3km) and Echunga (64.3km)
Mutual Community Stage 4 : Norwood to Strathalbyn
Friday 21 January 2011
Start : 11am
Race Neutral : 11km
Distance : 124km
?koda KOM : Checker Hill (27km)
Jayco Sprints : Gumeracha (33km) and Balhannah (61.6km)
Jayco Stage 5 : McLaren Vale to Willunga
Saturday 22 January 2011
Start : 11am
Distance : 131km
?koda KOM : Willunga Hill (89.4km & 111.9km)
Jayco Sprints : Aldinga Beach (23.3km & 63.6km)
Stage 6 : Adelaide City Council Street Circuit
Sunday 23 January 2011
Start : 1pm*
Laps : 20 @ 4.5km
Distance : 90km
?koda KOM : Montefiore Hill (42.5km & 64km)
Jayco Sprints : King William Road Finish Arch (36km & 54km)
Total Santos Tour Down Under (Stages 1-6) Race Distance: 758km
