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Simone Giuliani

Launching a new road racing season – A guide to Australia's 2026 sun-drenched opening block

WorldTour Australia Brodie Chapman Cadel Evans Ocean Luke Plapp Great Ocean Road Race Ally Wollaston Ben OConnor Jay Vine

WILLUNGA HILL, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: A general view of the peloton passing through Aldinga Beach landscape during the 25th Santos Tour Down Under 2025, Stage 5 a 145.7km stage from McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill 371m / #UCIWT / on January 25, 2025 in Willunga Hill, Australia. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

Europe may be the home of the WorldTour but once a year the spotlight shifts to the completely different time zone and weather, heading to Australia for a southern hemisphere start to the season.

In 2026 the position of the block of racing down under as the entrenched season starter for the year of WorldTour racing has only been strengthened by new rules that mean a WorldTeam can only miss one top-tier event a season. That means more teams than ever will be out to take on the Australian block, combining the WorldTour events of the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race for men and women, with some other ProSeries races added in too.

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