Once for South Australia, it was the Formula 1 Grand Prix that was the crowning jewel of sporting events, but its loss to Melbourne turned out to be Australian cycling’s gain – it delivered a clear opening for the state to soon get behind a very different type of race, the Tour Down Under.
What started as a men’s event in 1999 has changed considerably in the past 26 years, with the race now kickstarting both the men’s and women’s WorldTour seasons, and featuring all 14 top-tier women's squads for the first time in 2026.
