As the New Year brings us new adventures and new opportunities, it also brings a myriad of fantastic events to the city of Adelaide. In the first four months of every year, the city of Adelaide comes alive. During this time Adelaide hosts some major sporting events. This includes the cricket, tennis and the incredibly popular cycling race the Santos Tour Down Under.
The Santos Tour Down Under is the first major world cycling event in the world cycling calendar. All the major cycling teams and the who’s who in the cycling world descending on Adelaide to experience what this great city has to offer. Adelaide’s goal is to put on a world class event. Where the riders goal is to win the prestigious ochre winners jersey.
The Ourworldinreview team attended the People’s Choice Classic to soak up the atmosphere and join in on the fun. The one thing that is certain is Adelaide knows how to host an event. The 2.3km track is surrounded by local restaurants and the adjoining park-lands are scattered with mobile food and beverage trucks. The city also erected a stage area in the park-lands for a free after race concert with one of Australia’s best DJ’s Havana Brown.
Although the cycling race is the main attraction, the tour organisers make sure there is plenty of action for the spectators. The People’s Choice Undies Run for bowel cancer is a welcome part of the event with a large turnout of competitors running the 2.3km course to raise money for this terrible disease. There is still time to donate so if you can spare a dollar or two, please support this worthy cause.
The combination of the women’s and men’s pro cycling tour events sees the women contest the course first. It is amazing to see the speeds these athletes get up to. The race goes fairly quickly with an exciting but frenzied sprint finish to decide the winner. The same can be said about the men’s race, once it starts there’s a frenetic pace with a breakaway and subsequent capture by the chasing peloton.
The main sprint contenders, world road race champion Peter Sagan and Australia’s Caleb Ewan rely on their lead out trains to propel them to the finish line. The riders jostle for position, the crowd holds their breathes hoping there isn’t an accident, and they hit the line at about +50km/hr. In this marvellous race, Caleb Ewan comes out on top and the crowd erupts to cheer the intense finish.
The race, the atmosphere, the weather and the supporters are fantastic and the best part is, there is another 7 days. The Tour Down Under lasts for 9 days with the riders competing in 6 road stages and tonight’s People’s Choice Classic. The stages take in some of the highlights of South Australia and provide welcome promotion of our wonderful state. If you happened to have missed this event then head out over the next few days and enjoy the sights and racing. Or if you can’t make it this year then pencil in the dates for next years and come along and enjoy South Australia hospitality.
Santos Tour Down Under Survival tips
Remember, it will be summer in Australia and temperatures can get to 40 degrees Celsius. So make sure you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen as it takes only 10 minutes to get sunburnt. Set yourself up in a shady area as you should have plenty of room to take photos. Get a good camera so you can take those action shots. But beware; if you are taking photos make sure you look at the riders to see where you are positioned. It would not be a good thing if a rider hit you at high speed.
Additional Information
The Santos Tour Down Under is a sensational event and occurs in Adelaide in the middle of January. The stage course maps are available from their website.
Website: www.tourdownunder.com
Make sure you book your accommodation early, to get the best locations close to the city circuits.
So enjoy Adelaide and enjoy the Santos Tour Down Under.
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