THE 2021 Santos Tour Down Under has been cancelled amid concerns around the nature of hosting a truly international event with the ever-changing rules and regulations with COVID-19 and its relationship with international travel.
The news is a blow for the local cycling community, with it being arguably the most significant sporting event on the Barossa’s calendar, but it doesn’t mean no cycling event will take place in the region.
As well as the professionals, a large number of cycling enthusiasts would ride along with the race as it passed through towns like Tanunda and Angaston, and even take a week off work to not miss a beat.
It is also tough for Australian professional cyclists, with former Trinity College student Miles Scotson having the TDU circled on his calendar as part of the small percentage of time he gets to spend at home with family – since he is located in central Europe for training reasons most of the year.
However, organisers have said there will be a smaller domestic cycling festival in January in its place, but there are no guarantees it travels through the Barossa in the same way the TDU managed to.
SA Premier Steven Marshall said the plan is to try and attract as large of an interstate crowd as possible, hinting at the possibility of the event itself looking not too different despite a lack of international guests.
“We will be bringing in as many people from interstate in as we possibly can,” he said.
“We want them to fill our hotels, our cafes and our restaurants… but the international dimensions won’t be there next year.”

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