Cadel Evans rode the 2010 edition of the race as the world champion
The jersey winners from 2006 with Simon Gerrans taking the overall
In a reversal of 2012, Simon Gerrans won the Willunga Hill stage but lost the overall to Tom-Jelte Slagter (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Burnt out areas like this are a reminder of how devastating bush fires can be(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The first time the Tour Down Under finished in Paracombe, it was Rohan Dennis taking the win and setting up his GC victory(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Cadel Evans rode a commemorative BMC bike during his final appearance at the race in 2015(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
While the stage 6 city criterium is a largely enjoyable and relaxed day, accidents can still happen(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Cadel Evans fighting to hold on to the ochre jersey during the race but ultimately couldn't hold off Simon Gerrans who took the 2014 title(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Willunga Hill stage is best attended of all race days on the Australian calendar(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Corkscrew climb has quickly become a key feature of the race(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The twilight criterium on the eve of the race attracts the fans and kicks off the racing at the Tour Down Under(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Champagne time for the 2013 Tour Down Under jersey winners(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
An umbrella helps keep the sun off during the hot and sunny days(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Rohan Dennis has time to check his phone during the 2015 edition of the race which he won(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Simon Gerrans takes in the moment having sealed his fourth overall Tour Down Under victory(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Richie Porte riding to his third straight win on Willunga Hill in 2016(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Adam Hansen takes a beer from the fans on Willunga Hill. The queen stage is usually packed with the fans(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The seaside town of Glenelg is regular host of stages at the Tour Down Under(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Photos of former pros with joeys is a given at the Tour Down Under(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Just in case the riders forget which country they are racing in(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The finish at Stirling is always a fan favorite with the riders completing several laps before the slightly uphill finish(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Petr 'The snake charmer' Vakoč(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The race takes in Aldinga Beach during the Willunga Hill stage(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Norton Summit climb made its debut in the race last year and returns in 2017. The 5km climb offers views of the CBD and is one of the favourite climbs for the locals(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
2001 Tour Down Under champion Stuart O'Grady salutes his home crowd
2011 winner Cameron Meyer of the Garmin team
Team Sky go one-two with Greg Henderson and CJ Sutton in the pre-race Down Under criterium in 2010
The GreenEdge team line up for the 2012 edition of the race
André Greipel collects one of his many prizes from his Tour Down Under. This time it's a Driza-Bone rain coat
Will Clarke won a memorable stage into Stirling with the UniSA team
Former world champion Óscar Freire won a stage of the race when with Katusha
Alejandro Valverde won the stage up Willunga in 2012 but it was Simon Gerrans celebrating the overall
Simon Gerrans wins the second of his four Tour Down Under titles
Baden Cooke celebrates one of his four Tour Down Under stage wins
Mikel Astarloza (AG2R Prévoyance) is one of two Spanish riders have to have the race
Fabio Sacchi brought some European fashion to the 2002 edition of the race
Robbie McEwen winning a stage of the race back in 2002
Ben Day gets the stage win in 2005 for the national wildcard team
Baden Cooke gets the final stage win of the 2004 Tour Down Under
Mark Renshaw is one of numerous Australian's to have led the Tour Down Under
Andre Greipel, winning here in 2008, holds the record of most Tour Down Under stage wins
Mark Cavendish showing the effects of a crash when he rode the race in 2011
Michael Matthews celebrating his first WorldTour win at the 2011 Tour Down Under
Matt Goss wins the 2011 Cancer Council Classic
Robbie McEwen riding away for yet another Tour Down Under stage win
Temperatures into the 40's are common at the Tour Down Under but the riders still manage to smile
It was a colorful peloton contesting the Tour Down Under back in 2000
A wheelie from Robbie McEwen gets the crowd going
The ONCE-Eroski squad celebrate winning the 2003 team prize with their boomerangs on the podium
A young Philippe Gilbert wins the U23 award in 2004
LL Sanchez and Alberto Contador cross the line together back in 2005
Martin Elmiger's 2007 victory was the fourth in race history for AG2R Prévoyance
Allan Davis won the stage into Victor Harbor in 2008
Lance Armstrong and Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel with the press ahead of the race in 2009
Robbie McEwan enjoys his victory lap after his 2009 Down Under Classic criterium win
Lance Armstrong attracted a large following when he rode the race in 2009 with Astana
Lance Armstrong returned to the race in 2010 with his RadioShack team
Champagne time for the 2010 jersey winners
Mark Renshaw celebrates winning a stage of the Tour Down Under during his Crédit Agricole days
The 2016 season is far from over, yet it's now less than three months until the 2017 WorldTour gets underway in South Australia with the 19th running of the Tour Down Under. The race starts with the Saturday, 15 January People's Choice Classic before getting underway with gusto on Tuesday, January 17 with the 145km stage 1 from Unley to Lyndoch, and concludes Sunday, 22 January with an Adelaide city circuit.
Since its 1999 debut, won by Stuart O'Grady, the Tour Down Under has become a key early-season race and has regularly attracted the biggest names in the sport. The 2017 edition will continue that trend with world champion Peter Sagan confirmed to start his Bora-hansgrohe career in Adelaide, with more riders to be confirmed over the coming months.
With less than 100 days to go until the start of the race, Cyclingnews has put together a retrospective gallery of the race as we start our countdown to the start of the Tour Down Under.
For a close look at the photographs, slick or swipe through the gallery above.
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