Tour Down Under is to be expanded to include two weekends of cycling. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has reported the 2008 Tour will include an extra day of racing, taking it to an eight-day event, as part of the Rann Government's commitment to grow the event.
"The Tour Down Under will celebrate its 10th birthday next year and what better way to mark the occasion than with an expanded program of racing and festivities," Dr Lomax-Smith noted. "We committed up to $2 million in extra funds over the next four years to expand the number of teams and increase the race's profile internationally.
"Next year's Tour will include an extra road stage, expanding it to a full six-day Tour with two additional days of team presentations and elite cycling displays in the Down Under Classic."
He further noted future plans of the Tour Down Under, which could coincide with the UCI's wish to globalise the ProTour. "We are also positioning the Tour Down Under to become one of the first ProTour races outside of Europe ... The Tour Down Under is already the highest technically ranked cycling road race in the southern hemisphere ... We are continuing to lobby and work towards ProTour contention with Mr Pat McQuaid, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale.
The 2008 Tour Down Under event schedule is as follows:
Saturday, January 19, 2007 - Team Presentation
Sunday, January 20, 2007 - Down Under Classic
Monday, January 21, 2007 - Rest Day
Tuesday, January 22, 2007 - Stage 1
Wednesday, January 23, 2007 - Stage 2
Thursday, January 24, 2007 - Stage 3
Friday, January 25, 2007 - Stage 4
Saturday, January 26, 2007 - Stage 5
Sunday, January 27, 2007 - Stage 6
Race route details and team presentation plans will be announced in the coming months.
