Nat Bromhead
Tour Down Under organisers have announced what many have seen as inevitable – the 2022 TDU will not go ahead. It will be the second consecutive year top-level professional riders and teams will not visit Australia.
In place of the major annual event, a ‘Festival Of Cycling’ is again being planned, with organisers saying more information will be announced in coming weeks.
In a statement issued at noon today, organisers wrote –
Despite everyone’s best efforts, it is with regret that we advise that the Santos Tour Down Under, including the start of international cycling, and events including the men’s UCI WorldTour and the women’s UCI ProTour races, will not go ahead in 2022. We have fully explored all avenues, but unfortunately in the end it was the border closures and quarantine requirements for more than 400 people that make up the international teams that proved to still be too difficult to overcome.
While retaining an elite professional profile, the event still promises to deliver an array of exhilarating activities for cycling fans to enjoy, bringing together diverse cycling interests and professionals including road, track, BMX, mountain biking, paracycling, cyclocross, and much more. The event will also offer an exciting CBD hub in Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi.
More information surrounding race routes, cycling disciplines and the full Santos Festival of Cycling event program will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Festival Of Cycling
The best of Australian cycling is set to return once again to South Australia from January 21 – 29 at the Santos Festival of Cycling 2022. The festival will replace the Santos Tour Down Under in 2022, which cannot go ahead due to international border closures and associated quarantine requirements for visiting international teams.
“Adelaide in January is all about cycling and our cycling friends from all around Australia gathering here. Although international major events continue to be challenging, we will celebrate cycling in January 2022 in the best way we know how and welcome visitors to Adelaide once again to kick off the new year,” said Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall.
Events South Australia Executive Director, Hitaf Rasheed recognises the importance of the event to the people of South Australia.
“The Santos Tour Down Under is a much-loved event on the world cycling and Australian sporting calendar and an important economic driver for South Australia, attracting 44,000 people, injecting 742 jobs and more than $66 million into the economy when last held in 2020.
“We have fully explored all avenues, but unfortunately in the end it was the border closures and quarantine requirements for more than 400 people that make up the international teams that proved to still be too difficult to overcome,” said Hitaf Rasheed.
NRS & Local Teams To Race
Organisers say the festival will deliver “a wonderful experience for cycling fans to enjoy, bringing together Australia’s best with some of the world’s best across a range of disciplines – road, track, BMX, mountain biking, paracycling, cyclocross, and much more.”
Race Directors Stuart O’Grady and Kimberley Conte are excited to bring their plans to life, reflecting on the cycling talent expected to participate plus the new breadth of disciplines covered in the program.
“The Santos Festival of Cycling is the perfect opportunity to not only showcase some of our best athletes, but to tap into Australia’s enduring and growing passion for recreational cycling in all its forms,” they said.
