Latest News from the Race
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Interview'By just being angry' - Ben O'Connor hopes mentality shift will offer return to top form in 2026 after 'annoying year'
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News'I want to be ready and switched on' – Ben O'Connor to start WorldTour season at home in 2026 with Tour Down Under
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AnalysisThe unsigned riders that made a mark this Australian summer season
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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 2022. 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

'I was on my limit’ - Recovering Ewan runs out of steam on Tour Down Under stage 1
By Sophie Smith published
News Sprinter sick in the run-up to home race, where he is he working with his new Jayco-AlUla lead-out train for first time

Biniam Girmay takes new approach to Classics with Tour Down Under debut
By James Moultrie published
News Eritrean to target stages across the six days of racing as he starts 2024 campaign

‘Every single stage and the GC’ - Plapp points to big Tour Down Under target list for Jayco-Alula
By Simone Giuliani published
News GC leader Simon Yates comes to Australia 'more relaxed' given wealth of options

‘It’s an important year for me’ – Julian Alaphilippe makes early start at Tour Down Under
By Simone Giuliani published
News Two-time world champion looks to put difficulties behind him in contract year

Men's Tour Down Under – Can Jayco-AlUla continue their run of early 2024 success?
By Simone Giuliani published
Preview Alaphilippe, Haig and others aren’t going to make it easy for Australian WorldTour team in Adelaide

Caleb Ewan skips Tour Down Under criterium after feeling the Adelaide heat
By Stephen Farrand published
News 'The team’s priority is to get him on the start line on Tuesday, 100% ready to race the full Tour' say Jayco-AlUla

Tour Down Under - Nine riders seeking early-season success from Ganna to Yates
By Laura Weislo, James Moultrie published
Analysis Sprinters and GC riders who are expected to be in the mix in 2024

How to watch the 2024 Tour Down Under – live streaming
By Daniel Ostanek published
News The best way to watch all the action from the WorldTour and Women's WorldTour opener
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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'By just being angry' - Ben O'Connor hopes mentality shift will offer return to top form in 2026 after 'annoying year'
Australian GC challenger heads into 2026 searching for momentum, but more importantly, a clear mindset -
The unsigned riders that made a mark this Australian summer season
From Tour Down Under mountains jersey winners Fergus Browning and Alyssa Polites to the victors at the domestic staples -
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From training race to charged WorldTour battles, the 25-year evolution of the Tour Down Under
Celebrating one era and carving out the next at Australia’s men's and women's WorldTour opener -
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















