Latest News from the Race
Date | January 20-25, 2026 |
Distance | 758km |
Start location | Adelaide |
Finish location | Sterling |
Category | WorldTour |
Previous edition | |
Previous winner | Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates XRG) |
Men's Tour Down Under information
The Australian six-stage event, centred in Adelaide, with stages held across South Australia in the height of the southern hemisphere summer, usually delivers a sweltering opener to the new WorldTour season.
The race, which has been part of the WorldTour since 2008, starts in Adelaide with a 3.6km prologue time trial on January 20 and concludes in Sterling on January 25.
Australian riders often impress after spending the winter at home, but with WorldTour status creating a strong international field, there is no guarantee the Aussies will have it all their way.
Previous winners include Simon Gerrans, who has won the race on four occasions in 2012, 2014, 2006, and 2016. Tied for twice winning the overall title are Richie Porte (in 2017 and 2020), Stuart O'Grady (in 1999 and 2001), Daryl Impey (2018 and 2019) and Andre Greipel (2010 and 2008).
Since its inception in 1999, the race was cancelled for two editions due to COVID-19 in 2021 and 2020. The most recent overall winner was Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 2025.
Get unlimited access to all of our coverage of the Tour Down Under and Women’s Tour Down Under, including reporting from Australia, breaking news and analysis. Find out more.
2026 Men's Tour Down Under stages
- Prologue: Adelaide - Adelaide TT 3.6km
- Stage 1: Tanunda - Tanunda, 120.6km
- Stage 2: Norwood - Uraidla, 148.1km
- Stage 3: Adelaide - Nairne, 140.8km
- Stage 4: Brighton - Willunga Hill, 176km
- Stage 5: Sterling - Sterling, 169.8km
Races
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Tour Down Under20 January 2026 - 25 January 2026 | South Australia | WorldTour
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Prologue | Adelaide - Adelaide (ITT)2026-01-20 3.6km
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Stage 1 | Tanunda - Tanunda2026-01-21 120.6km
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Stage 2 | Norwood - Uraidla2026-01-22 148.1km
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Stage 3 | Henley Beach - Nairne2026-01-23 140.8km
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Stage 4 | Brighton - Willunga Hill2026-01-24 176km
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Stage 5 | Stirling - Stirling2026-01-25 169.8km
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Latest Content on the Race

Tour Down Under 2025 - Analysing the contenders
By James Moultrie last updated
Contenders A close look at the favourites for the ochre jersey, as 2024 winner Williams to face stiff competition from Plapp, Vine and Onley young super talents

'I thought maybe I mucked that up' - Tour Down Under stage winner Sam Welsford went early in the sprint
By Laura Weislo published
News Visma-Lease a Bike's Matthew Brennan almost surprises stage 1 winner

Dylan Van Baarle crashes at Tour Down Under, breaks collarbone in fresh injury setback
By Laura Weislo published
News Visma-Lease a Bike veteran will not start stage 2, team say

'Super talent' Albert Philipsen makes WorldTour debut at Tour Down Under
By Stephen Farrand published
News 'I would like to go out and show what I can do' says 18-year-old Lidl-Trek rider

'Even if I muck it up we've got someone else' – Jay Vine returns to Tour Down Under with Narváez as not-so-secret weapon
By Simone Giuliani published
News 'I think it suits exactly what my style of racing is to have him on the team' says Australian 2023 winner of new teammate

Following in Richie Porte’s Tour Down Under footsteps – Is this the year Luke Plapp can claim his mentor’s crown?
By Simone Giuliani published
News ‘I think it's one of the hardest courses the Tour Down Under’s probably ever seen, which I think is right up my alley’

From breakaway league to UCI approved - The One Cycling project has changed again but could launch very soon
By Stephen Farrand published
News 'The red line is that we don’t want to have a breakaway league' says UCI President Dvid Lappartient
Top News on the Race
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A mountains jersey that could launch a pro career? Fergus Browning dominates Tour Down Under climbers classification
'The exposure I've had has just been exactly what I needed … I'm really looking forward to what's to come' -
Sam Welsford eyes Tour de France berth after trio of stage wins in Tour Down Under
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter puts his hands up for first maillot jaune -
'It hasn't cost me' - Luke Plapp raced with injured wrist in Tour Down Under
Jayco-AlUla rider says he crashed in training on Mount Buffalo in December and re-aggravated old injury
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Lidl-Trek's Juan Pedro Lopez ejected from Tour Down Under for sticky bottle
Team accepts decision after Spaniard takes a tow from neutral assistance moto -
'In this race, I think this gap is a lot' – Narváez ready to cancel the sting of second place at Tour Down Under
A nine seconds gap before final stage means Ecuadorian champion is set to claim overall victory in first race with UAE Team Emirates-XRG -
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe deliver Tour Down Under podium for Finn Fisher-Black
Team's plan comes to fruition on stage 5 to Willunga Hill but another crash costs points leader Welsford
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'We had big plans and didn't pull it off, but we tried' - Jayco-AlUla go all in at Tour Down Under
Plapp patient after missing crosswind split but not able to top Narvaez atop Willunga Hill -
Tour Down Under GC battle remains poised on knife-edge before key Willunga stage
Javier Romo holds fragile four-second lead on 2024 runner-up Jhonatan Narvaez -
Narváez's battles for bonus seconds bubbles over in contentious stage 4 Tour Down Under sprint in Victor Harbor
UAE Team Emirates protests after Narváez finishes third but still nabs four-second time bonus to close GC gap
Related Features
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The unsigned riders that made a mark this Australian summer season
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From training race to charged WorldTour battles, the 25-year evolution of the Tour Down Under
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A matter of seconds - is the Tour Down Under hard enough for the WorldTour?
Heat and the early season slot limit the potential for tough days in the Australian race, but we speak to teams to see if a harder race would challenge the WorldTour's best and attract more talent


















