The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect cycling, with the traditional season opener, the Tour Down Under, getting cancelled and scaled back due to European teams being unable to attend.
In its place comes the Santos Festival of Cycling, a six-day cycling event that takes in a four-day stage race as well as virtual, mountain bike, track, cyclo-cross roller, criterium racing and more.
Due to the nature of the race, only local teams and riders are able to attend, but there are still some major names on the start list, including Richie Porte, Lucas Hamilton, Luke Durbridge, Sarah Gigante, Grace Brown, and more.
Cyclingnews will be bringing you full reports, results, news, interviews, and analysis throughout the race. Read on to find out how to watch the Santos Festival of Cycling via live stream, no matter your location, with ExpressVPN.
Check here for the full start lists for the race, which includes Team BikeExchange,
Australian national selections, a men's WorldTour selection, and a host of local squads including CCS Cycling, Cervelo-Tonsley, and Velofit Australia.
The race will take in four short stages in South Australia. Stage 1 features the tough Mengler Hill in reverse, but isn't expected to be a GC day. Stage 2 is a harder day which takes in areas affected by the 2020 wildfires and also includes gravel sections.
Stage 3 features the famous Willunga Hill and a chance for Porte to take his seventh win there on what will certainly be the decisive GC day. The final stage is an hour-long criterium in Adelaide, giving the sprinters and crit specialists a chance to shine.
Read on for all the information on how to watch the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling.
Santos Festival of Cycling live stream
Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for alerts on important stories and action during the race.
Both races will be shown live on Australian streaming station 7Plus, with the women's stages up first before switching over to the men's action. Anna Meares, Matt Keenan and Robbie McEwen will be in the commentary booth for both races.
7Plus is available via web, iOS, Android, Freeview, Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TV Playstation 4, though only in Australia.
The races aren't being aired live in either Europe or North America.
If you live outside a broadcast zone or are on holiday outside your country and find that the live streams to be geo-restricted, you can get around this by getting access to them by simulating being back in your home country via a 'virtual private network', or VPN, for your laptop, tablet or mobile.
Our sister site TechRadar tested hundreds of VPNs and recommends the number-one VPN currently available as Express VPN. With ExpressVPN, you can watch on many devices at once including Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, PC, Mac, iPhone, Android phone, iPads, tablets, etc.
Race schedule
Women's race
Stage 1: Seppeltsfield - Tanunda, 106.8km
Thursday January 21, 09:00 (ACST), 23:30 (CET)
Stage 2: Birdwood - Lobethal, 116km
Friday January 22, 09:00 (ACST), 23:30 (CET)
Stage 3: McLaren Vale - Willunga, 88.2km
Saturday January 23, 10:00 (ACST), 00:30 (CET)
Stage 4: Victoria Park Criterium, 60mins+1 lap
Sunday January 24, 16:45 (ACST), 07:15 (CET)
Men's race
Stage 1: Seppeltsfield - Tanunda, 80.7km
Thursday January 21, 13:15 (ACST), 03:45 (CET)
Stage 2: Birdwood - Lobethal, 97.3km
Friday January 22, 13:30 (ACST), 04:00 (CET)
Stage 3: McLaren Vale - Willunga, 48.8km
Saturday January 23, 13:00 (ACST), 03:30 (CET)
Stage 4: Victoria Park Criterium, 60mins+1 lap
Sunday January 24, 18:45 (ACST), 09:15 (CET)
