TOUR DOWN UNDER DATES SET FOR 2010
The 2010 Tour Down Under will take place in South Australia from 17 to 24 January 2010.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith announced the dates after they were agreed at a meeting of the UCI ProTour Council in Switzerland.
“In January we had the most successful Tour Down Under ever and we are now looking forward to another great event in 2010,” Dr Lomax-Smith says. “Nearly three quarters of a million people took to the streets of South Australia to watch the Tour Down Under, thousands of whom travelled here from interstate and overseas. The Tour Down Under is a big drawcard to attract visitors to our State.
people travel here not only to watch the racing but to take part in associated events such as the Mutual Community Challenge Tour, and to enjoy the great attractions and hospitality that South Australia has to offer. Lance Armstrong’s comeback at this year’s Tour Down Under attracted a worldwide audience to the event and helped to raise the profile of his important global cancer campaign. The Tour Down Under is believed to have attracted the largest ever crowd for a free Australian sporting event, with 144,000 people watching the final day’s race at the Adelaide City Council Street Circuit. It is important that we now build on the success of the 2009 event.”
In 2008, the Tour Down Under became the first event outside Europe to join the elite UCI ProTour. The Tour Down Under will be the first race of the UCI World Calendar in 2010. “As part of the prestigious UCI ProTour, the Tour Down Under is a great celebration of cycling and an opportunity to showcase South Australia to the world,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
The 2010 event will kick off with the Down Under Classic on Sunday 17 January 2010, followed by the six stages of the Tour Down Under from Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 January 2010.
Australia’s premier cycling event begins the new Professional season with all the World’s top teams heading south for some Australian sunshine. ProTour status means that the TDU can include 18 professional teams.
Full stage details and race routes will be announced in July.
2010 Mutual Community Challenge Tour – part of the Skoda Breakaway Series recreational ride program – will be held on Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under, from Norwood to Goolwa, on Friday 22 January 2010. Routes for other stages will be announced in July. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the ride is expected to be a tough but rewarding challenge for amateur cycling enthusiasts.
“At 160.5km, it is the longest ever route for the Mutual Community Challenge Tour,” Dr Lomax-Smith says. “Although it will be a test for all those participating, it will also be a beautiful ride from Norwood through the Fleurieu Peninsula to Goolwa. “The Mutual Community Challenge Tour is a great way for cycling fans to be a part of the Tour Down Under and ride the same UCI ProTour route, on the same day, as the world‟s elite cyclists.
“The local councils of the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters and Goolwa‟s Alexandrina Council are excited to be hosting this Stage.” The 2010 Mutual Community Challenge Tour has three ride options to suit all skills and experience: Option 1 160.5km* Norwood to Goolwa (start at 6:30am) Option 2 111km Woodside to Goolwa (start at 7:00am) Option 3 35km Milang to Goolwa (start at 9:30am) *Includes 11km race neutral and 149.5km Tour Down Under race distance
Our accommodation will be at the Hilton which is the centre of activity for the Tour Down Under and where all the teams and staff will be based for the race.
Situated directly in front of our hotel is the Tour Village, the teams base for the week and a hive of activity every day. You can watch the mechanics at work, catch a glimpse of the riders as they finish (don’t forget your autograph book!), catch-up on all the race results, buy your official race merchandise and take a look at the trade displays.
The Tour Village is a focal point for the event incorporating the following aspects:
• team mechanics preparation area
• a base for the team support cars
• event update information
• refreshment areas
• a hub for the event and the opportunity to get close to the action
Combining the race with Adelaide’s great restaurants, wineries, scenery and friendly locals and you have a winning formula.
Our trip will be accompanied by 2001 Tour Down Under stage winner and all round good guy David McKenzie. Dave is a seasoned pro, a journeyman as they said in the old days. He has ridden hundreds of races and has the claim to fame of having race victories on four continents. He is a stage winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2000 after an epic 170km (101 mile) solo breakaway that is now legend and a former Australian Road Champion. Dave and his wife Susan were also the brains behind Iteam.Nova, the first publicly funded professional cycling team in Australia and possibly, the world. The team was be managed by former Tour De France yellow jersey and McCartney DS, Sean Yates and led by McKenzie.
