ATHLETES competing in this year’s Tour Down Under have all officially touched down in Adelaide as of yesterday in preparation for the first leg in the Barossa Valley, where they will race five 30km loops starting and finishing in Tanunda.
Last year, the Barossa leg started in Norwood and only featured a finish in Angaston after passing through Tanunda, Greenock and Nuriootpa, but the Barossa Council and Tour Down Under organisers realised the loops’ value in providing a full day’s activity for the region.
“We had a finish, and I guess it’s gotten to the point where we all believe that loops in a confined area attract more people, and it keeps the crowd there all day,” Barossa Mayor, Bim Lange, said.
“So now it’s all day, starting in the morning and will build the product in a way in which people could spend a family day in the Barossa.”
Race director, Mike Turtur, said that the organising committee is expecting big numbers in attendance for the opening stage, with the new course being only the second time in Tour Down Under history that a stage has been exclusively located in a regional area outside of the Schwalbe Classic.
“A Tanunda to Tanunda finish with a 30km circuit around the Barossa region with the fan favourite, ‘King of the Mountain’, on Breakneck Hill, which is also a first for the Santos Tour Down Under,” Mr Turtur said.
“There will be plenty of action on the road, and chances for fans to be able to see the whole race in the one regional area.”