As it happened: New Zealander sprints into leader's jersey on stage 1 of Women's Tour Down Under

Welcome to live coverage of the 2026 Women’s Santos Tour Down Under. The three-day South Australian race stretches a record 394km and opens the new Women’s WorldTour season.

Since debuting as criteriums in 2011, the women’s Santos Tour Down Under has rapidly climbed the ranks—2.2 in 2016, 2.1 with equal prize money in 2018, WorldTour in 2023, and expanded again with a 1.Pro race in 2025. In 2026, it climbs again: a UCI rule limiting teams to skipping just one Women's WorldTour event ensures all 14 elite squads will line up in Adelaide for the first time, boosting depth and firepower across the peloton.

Riders are just rolling up to a sunny and warm day in Willunga with enough wind to get the flags flying on the start finish.

The bakery at the start in Willunga is overflowing and a full complement of new kits are getting their first WWT showing.

Can't wait to see the new kits in action in the first Women's WorldTour race of the season. Exciting!

Racing will start in around 5 minutes for stage 1 of the Women's Tour Down Under, starting and ending in Willunga for a total of 137.4km.

And the 2026 Women’s Santos Tour Down Under is underway, starting with a 1.3km neutral section.

Four riders from Liv AlUla Jayco are staying close to race director's car who is whistling and trying to calm the nerves down

Flag drop by race director Stuart O’Grady and racing is underway for stage 1 of the Women's Tour Down Under. A total of 90 riders registered to take the start today.

Rather than cater to the climbers, stage 1 is for punchy sprinters who can power up the modest climb and its 20 metres of elevation (5.6% gradient).

Here’s what race director Stuart O’Grady had to say about stage 1:

“This opening stage will be the longest in Santos Tour Down Under women’s race history – a milestone we are all very proud of. In previous years the main emphasis of this stage has been Willunga Hill, but this stage is more about McLaren Vale and other parts of the region. The finish is the same as the men’s race in 2023 when Bryan Coquard won. There is a four or five per cent drag up to the finish line, so even though on paper it’s a sprinter’s stage we could see some surprises.”

5 kms in and peloton is all together, across the road as they speed by the vineyards, and race motorcycles make their way around the pack.

Amber Pate was not able to start today, leaving Liv AlUla Jayco down to 5 riders in their home race.

Different teams, including Visma-Lease a Bike, Liv AlUla Jayco , EF Education-Oatly and AG Insurance-Soudal are all massing at the front.

5 kilometres to the first sprint, set to take place through the Esplanade at Snapper Point in Aldinga Beach. It’s the same smooth stretch of tarmac where Daniek Hengeveld soloed to victory on stage 1 in 2025.

Teams lining up at the front for the points and time bonus seconds on offer.

Pace is picking up significantly with SD Worx accelerating at the front inside of 2km to the first intermediate sprint. And now Movistar takes over the front.

Riders are going early. Movistar tries to control the pace and crosses first.

120km to go

Peloton all together after the first intermediate sprint taken by Olivia Baril (Movistar) ahead of Marta Lach (SD Worx-Protime) and Margaux Vigie (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Three-time Santos Tour Down Under overall winner Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) is lining up for her last Santos Womens' Tour Down Under after announcing that this will be her last season.

She shared her thoughts with Cyclingnews before the start of stage 1:

When asked how it feels to be lining up for her last TDU:

"Exciting, I think, mostly exciting, It's really nice that I already announced that, and know it's going to be, my last season. II feel a sense of calm around that and I'm still really motivated for the season ahead to race really well and training really well. I still love the sport, so I think I'm in a nice place."

Asked about what she'd like from the race:

"I'd love to have a great and strong GC result but just with our team, I think, we have four really good climbers here, so we really want to get one of us up there on the podium."

Peloton still together. Teammates are chatting at the front and looking at the other teams. Who will attack first?

Uno-X Mobility squad are massing at the front of the peloton who is still together on the longest stage of the race.

The combination of wide roads, no wind and many teams working for the expected sprint finish have discouraged attacks - so far.

It may be Mikayla Harvey's fourth Tour Down Under, but it is her SD Worx-Protime team's first, with the rider from New Zealand one of two members of the team, alongside Barbara Guarischi, who have taken on the event before:

"We've come into here with some high hopes. The courses really suit our team so yeah, I'm excited for the next few days. I think we have a super strong team. I'm feeling good. We've had a good winter of preparation, and we've done all we can these past few months and I think we can go in confident and happy to do some racing."

Team snagging bottles in the first feedzone of the day with 104km to go in McLaren Vale.

Matthew Winston, Picnic Post NL directeur sportif, shared his thoughts with Cyclingnews before the start this morning.

"Obviously, first race of the season, always nice, and we want to hit the ground running. We bring Josie [Nelson] as our team leader this year. She's a young rider that's been developing really well over the last couple of years, making some nice steps, and we want to give her the opportunity."

The opportunities for the 23-year-old British rider start from the very first stage. "Slight uphill sprint. She's got a little bit of a punch, and we'll see how we go".

Attack!

First attack of the stage by Uno-X rider with 102km to go. Quick reaction by the peloton.

The attack was nullified, and the field is once again spread across the road.

Another attack by Alessia Vigilia of Uno-X on a slight drag up inside of 100km to go.

Vigilia gets a small gap and an immediate reaction from the peloton as a few riders are off the back, including Magdeline Vallieres and a teammate.

Vigilia has a gap of 35 seconds inside of 98 kilometres to go.

Vallieres has rejoined the field.

Peloton is happy to let Vigilia be solo off the front, as her gap hits 1:01 with 94 km to go.

One contender for the stage victory today is Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) who claimed her first UCI road win here two years ago.

"You let things go when you get older," Dygert told media at a pre-press conference. "You grow up a little bit, you take probably a little less risk – no more guardrails – but yeah, the hunger still remains."

Read more: 'I'm sick of losing' – Hunger remains for Chloé Dygert as she starts new season at Tour Down Under

Vigilia has 1:42 with 90km to go, as she races towards to first QOM of the day which comes at 83.4 km to go.

Fenix-Premier Tech and FDJ United-Suez are monitoring the action at the front of the peloton with the gap to Vigilia at 1:48.

1.5km to the first QOM of the day on Lower Willunga Hill.

The 475m cat. 3 ascent has a maximum gradient of 5.6% and average of 4.2%

QOM #1

Vigilia easily takes top QOM points as she crosses the start/finish line and starts the first of three finishing laps.

The 26-year-old has a 2:30 lead with 83.8km to go.

A last-minute dash to the line from the field and with help from her Lidl-Trek teammates, Gaia Realini crosses the QOM line in second place.

That little acceleration decreased Vigilia's lead to 2:20

Defending champion Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) has a clear plan for the Women's Tour Down Under:

"The first two days, everything can happen as well. So yeah, we have to stay safe in the first two days and then try to give it all out on the corkscrew."

Read more: 'First time I will wear bib number one' - Noemi Rüegg faces new territory as defending champion at 2026 Tour Down Under

The whole FDJ United-Suez squad takes control of the field, working for their sprinter Ally Wollaston. Behind them are riders from EF Education-Oatly and Fenix-Premier Tech./

Let's hear what Ally Wollaston (FDJ United-Suez) had to say to the race commentator this morning:

“I think out of three stages is probably my best chance. So fingers crossed. It'll end up in a sprint today. But yeah, after arriving here today, the finish is actually a little bit harder than I remember - the bottom. So yeah, it should be a really, really tough sprint, but we're looking forward to it.”

"Hopefully the training I've done can prepare me for today. And I feel like I've had a really good block the last two months I've been at home on this side of the world. So it's been a good preparation. I'm not sure I could have done anything else to turn up here better."

Vigilia gets some bottles from the Shimano Neutral service cat inside of 70km to go. Her gap is now at 2:51.

Peloton is perfectly happy to let Vigilia suffer solo off the front, gap now at 3:06 with 66km to go as they speed by Aldinga Beach.

AG Insurance-Soudal takes over the pace-making in the field, followed by Fenix-Premier Tech who are staying close to the front.

Vigilia knows how to manage her effort. She finished second, by one slim second , to Ellen van Dijk at the Chrono des Nations last year.

The Italian switched teams this year, joining Uno-X Mobility after two years with FDJ-Suez.

Gap continues to grow to 3:24 with 61k to go with a single FDJ United-Suez rider now at the front, followed by Fenix-Premier Tech and Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto.

Meanwhile another FDJ United-Suez rider was talking to other teams, asking for assistance in controlling the gap.

Last year, Daniek Hengeveld caused a major surprise on stage 1, taking the win in a long-range solo attack.

The route is different, and the peloton is stronger this year, but alarms are starting to ring in the field. Pace is picking up.

Amber Kraak (FDJ United-Suez) continues to set the pace at the front while Vigilia's Uno-X teammates move up behind her to disrupt any organized chase.

Vigilia is starting to show some discomfort as she sees 57km to go, holding her gap at 3:26.

Kraak has been working hard at the front, stringing out the peloton, but Vigilia is still holding at 3:17, even if her shoulders have started to rock slightly on the long uphill drag.

Uno-X now has 3 riders disrupting the chase, and they are sitting behind Kraak. The FDJ team is lined up behind the Uno-X trio but are not willing - yet - to put more firepower in the chase.

Kraak has nibbled a few seconds off of Vigilia's lead, down to 3:07 and she now has four Uno-X riders on her wheel. Behind them are Liv AlUla Jayco.

3km to go to the second and last QOM of the day for Vigilia, who has a gap of 3:05. She should be able to hold on and get the QOM jersey at the end of the say.

The peloton will see the finish line for the second time as they climb QOM #2 and can plan their final sprint.

QOM #2 - 42 km to go

Alessia Vigilia claims the second QOM, and she crossed the finish line to start the second finishing lap with a lead of 2:29.

Fatigue is starting to show, as her gap has started to decrease.

Jostling in the peloton to take the remaining QOM points with Lidl-Trek setting the pace for Gaia Realini. They've definitely made it clear that they want the final QOM jersey.

But UAE Team ADQ make their move and Paula Blasi takes second ahead of her teammate.

Gap has been revised to 2:58 for Vigilia with 38km to go.

Kraak is back at the front setting the pace, followed by her teammate Léa Curinier.

And now SD Worx-Protime's Julia Kopecky goes to the front to reel Vigilia back.

But Kraak is back at the front. More teams are moving riders up but they're happy to let Kraak set the pace for now with 35km to go.

The youngest rider in the race, 20-year-old Stina Kavegi (EF), Kopecky and Kraak are rotating at the front with the gap now at 2:38

4km to the second intermediate sprint. Vigilia still have a 2:23 lead so she should get the points and the three-second time bonus.

Will the peloton sprint for the two- and one-second time bonus left? Olivia Baril did sprint and even do a bike throw to get the three seconds on the first intermediate sprint. But we are getting closer to the finish line.

Vigilia takes 3 points and a 3-second time bonus at the second intermediate sprint in Aldinga Beach. Her gap is 1:53 with 23km to go.

Movistar is organising at the front along with Visma and UAE.

Baril gets a team leadout to take second in the intermediate sprint and takes 2-second time bonus for a total of 5 seconds gained in the intermediate sprints.

Loes Adegeest takes third and a 1-second time bonus.

20km to go

Gap is tumbling down for Alessia Vigilia, who now has 1:25 with 20km to go.

Léa Curinier joins Kraak in the rotation, as the wind starts to increase slighlty.

Peloton is feeling the pressure of the pace at the front.

Gap under the 1-minute mark inside of 15km to go. Sprinters' teams are organising at the front.

The chase has gone out and the fight for positioning has started in the peloton with 11km to go. UAE is massed on one side of the field as Vigilia's lead is now at 50 seconds.

Vigilia is not giving up, pushing on her pedals as her gap is now 50 seconds with 8km to go.

EF, UAE, FDJ are putting riders at the front, trying to organise for upcoming sprint but they need to catch Vigilia first.

Visma's sprinter Martina Fidanza is at the back of the field with two teammates.

Ally Wollaston has positioned behind her FDJ teammates with Marie LeNet on her wheel, acting as the sweeper.

4km to go, and Vigilia has a gap of 33 seconds.

Alex Manly takes the front of the fueld followed by her AG teammates.

Cars are being cleared out behind Vigilia who is still pushing hard.

More jostling at the front. Now it's Picnic PostNL coming forwards.

The peloton can see Vigilia up the long road as FDJ is no longer at the front but Wollaston is sitting close to the front behind her teammate LeNet

Crash

Riders go down with 2km to go - a few Liv riders down.

Another touch of wheels in the peloton with 1.5km to go,

Vigilia crosses the 1km to go banner still ahead of the peloton.

EF pulling the field, followed by SD Worx with Ruegg in third spot.

Vigilia is caught!

Ally Wollaston opened up her sprint early to take the win for FDJ United-Suez.

Josie Nelson (Picnic PostNL) was second and Femke Gerriste (SD Worx-Protime) took third in Willunga.

Our Australian editor reports from the finish line that Georgia Baker was one of the Liv AlUla Jayco riders who came down. She crossed line with a relatively unscathed looking Ruby Roseman-Gannon, but Baker was covered in mud with a heavily bandaged knee and limping as she got off the bike.

Let's hear from the stage winner and race leader Ally Wollaston.

About the win - "It means the world, I think. To be honest, I didn't feel great during the race. I was actually really anxious. I felt a lot of pressure, and I really struggled in the peloton. But I was just so lucky to have these girls in the final. They lead me to the perfect place, and all I had to do was finish it off. So, yeah, it's really a team effort today, for sure."

About catching Alessia Vigilia - "We definitely didn't want to repeat it [like] last year. I think that's why we put Amber [Kraak] on the front so early. And she was incredible. I think she was on the front for how long was Amber on the front for? It was insane. I've never seen anything like it. So, yeah, I really owe the race to these girls. At the end, I actually didn't even know if she was caught or not. I only saw her on the finish line. So she was, she was an incredible effort from Alessia, for sure."

About defending the ochre jersey - "

I think it'd be silly not to, I think if you're wearing a WorldTour leaders jersey, you kind of have to do it justice. So excuse me. See, I think we go all in tomorrow to try and keep the jersey. Yeah, I'm sure if it's not on my shoulders, one of these girls will be strong enough. Strong enough to try and take it."

Let's hear from QOM leader Alessia Vigilia, who was also awarded the most combative prize.

"It’s a really nice way to start the season, to be in the breakaway, to feel well. It's never, I think, easy to adapt to the jet lag and the heat, but, it's a really good way to start the season. I was hoping that the race was a bit shorter so that they could make it. But I really want to do well with my new team. And I think we try to be aggressive during the whole race, and hopefully one day I will make it to the finish."

About racing the Women’s Tour Down Under - "It’s my first time here, and I'm really enjoying it. The crowd was amazing. I was really like having goose bumps on the finish line. It's really a nice course, and the next two days, I think, are going to be even more interesting. So looking forward to play new cards tomorrow and the day after."

Let's hear from Justyna Czapla (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto), who finished 25th on the stage, with the same time as the winner, and leads the best young rider classification.

"We had the goal to go for the best young rider classification also, and it worked out better than I thought. So, I'm really happy to have it now after the first stage. And, happy to wear it tomorrow, and I will also give everything to keep it."

About juggling keeping the white jersey and working for team leaders Neve Bradbury and Chloé Dygert - "I think we can manage it well. We have a strong team. And everyone has [their] strengths."

Our race report, results, and photos can all be found here: Ally Wollaston sprints to stage 1 win after solo break is reeled in before the line