Tour Down Under 2024
Latest News from the Race
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The Eddy Merckx bike raced by the Cannibal - Gallery
With the relaunch of Eddy Merckx bikes, I dug these photos out from my archive -
‘Dressing the wounds, screaming in the shower’ – Plapp tests recovery from Tour Down Under crash
Australian champion lines up heavily bandaged at Surf Coast Classic, testing waters before Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race -
‘I don’t know where I will be next year’ - Julian Alaphilippe rides back into red zone via the Tour Down Under
Soudal-Quick Step leader goes back to basics to return to his best and discover his future
Date | Tuesday January 16 to Sunday January 21 |
Distance | 824.6km |
Start location | Tanunda, South Australia |
Finish location | Mount Lofty, South Australia |
Category | WorldTour |
Previous edition winner | Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) |
2024 Tour Down Under results
Stage 6: Stephen Williams takes final stage and wins Tour Down Under / As it happened
Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) followed moves and covered all attacks in the final two kilometers before unleashing his sprint with 250 metres to take the win in Mt Lofty and secure the overall win of the 2024 Tour Down Under.
Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) finished a close second, and moved up to second overall. Stage 2 winner Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) finished third on the stage and the general classification.
Stage 5: Oscar Onley wins on Willunga Hill / As it happened
Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL) marked all attacks from a select group of pre-race favourites and bided his time to unleash his uphill sprint with 150 metres to go to take the win, his first professional win, on stage 5. Runner-up Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) takes over the GC lead, tied on time with Onley. Third on the stage, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) moves up to third overall, five seconds back. Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) are 13 seconds down, with one stage to go.
Stage 4: A third win for Sam Welsford on stage 4 / As it happened
Even losing the wheels of his BORA-Hansgrohe's teammates couldn't stop Sam Welsford who claimed his third victory in Port Elliot. The Australian simply used other riders to launch himself to victory ahead of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Lars Boven (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) safely crossed the line and still leads the general classification with a slim one-second as we head to a showdown for the GC contenders in the final two stages.
Stage 3: Sam Welsford speeds to second win on stage 3 / As it happened
Once again, Sam Welsford was the fastest to take his second victory in three days in Campbelltown. The Australian received a great leadout from his BORA-Hansgrohe on the very fast and tricky downhill dash to the line. Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) was second and Daniel McLay (Arkea-B&B Hotels), third. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) retained the GC lead.
Riders involved in a hard crash inside of 10 kilometres to go included Australian champion Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla), Cameron Scott (Bahrain Victorious), and Astana Qazaqstan riders Samuele Battistella and Michele Gazzoli.
Stage 2: Isaac Del Toro launches late race attack to win stage 2 / As it happened
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) launched a blistering attack in the final hectic kilometre to win stage 2 in Lobethal. The charging peloton could not catch the 20-year Mexican rider with Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) taking second. Del Toro takes over the general classification.
Stage 1: Sam Welsford holds off Phil Bauhaus to win stage 1 / As it happened
The opening stage was won by Sam Welsford (BORA-Hansgrohe), as the sprinters made their mark on the first day of racing on the WorldTour. No one could match the Australian's speed in the final 50 meters of the mass sprint to claim the first victory with his new team. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) was second and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) rounded out the podium.
Get unlimited access to all of our coverage of the Tour Down Under and Women’s Tour Down Under, including reporting from Australia, breaking news and analysis. Find out more.
Men's Tour Down Under information
The Australian six stage event, centered in Adelaide, winds its way across South Australian roads in the height of the southern hemisphere summer, delivering a usually sweltering opener to a new WorldTour season.
The race, which was first held in 1999 and has been part of the WorldTour since 2008, starts in Tanunda in 2024 and once again finishes on top of Mount Lofty, where Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) claimed overall victory in 2023.
The race is often a place where Australian riders rise to the top, putting their best foot forward as they return from Europe to race on home soil, but with the strong international field delivered by its WorldTour status there is no guarantee they will have it all their way.
Caleb Ewan will be among those hoping to capture a winning start to the 2024 season in front of the home-nation crowd as he lines up with the Australian squad Jayco-AlUla once again, having returned after five years with Lotto Soudal.
The first four stages are where chances exist for the sprinters, although there is some potential for the opportunists to grasp a win instead along the way. There is no doubt, however, that riders that are happier on the flat will just be trying to hang on as long as possible on the final two stages as that is where the battle for the leader's ochre jersey will be in the spotlight.
The two summit finish stages, Willunga Hill and Mount Lofty, provide the makings of a thrilling weekend finale. Both climbs have featured in the race before but never before together, with Willunga having a long history at the race and Lofty making its debut as a finishing climb in 2023.
Men's Tour Down Under stages
- Stage 1, Tanunda to Tanunda - 144km
- Stage 2, Norwood to Lobethal - 141.6km
- Stage 3, Tea Tree Gully to Campbelltown - 145.3km
- Stage 4, Murray Bridge to Port Elliot - 136.2km
- Stage 5, Christies Beach to Willunga Hill - 129.3km
- Stage 6, Unley to Mount Lofty - 128.2km
2024 Tour Down Under riders to watch
Sprinters and GC riders are expected to be in the mix in 2024 Tour Down Under. Cyclingnews dug into the start list and came up with nine riders to watch - some obvious, some not so much - at the Tour Down Under from January 16 through 21.
2024 men's Tour Down Under schedule
Date | Stage | Start time (ACDT) | Finish time (ACDT) |
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Tuesday January 16, 2024 | Stage 1 | 11:10 | 14:53 |
Wednesday January 17, 2024 | Stage 2 | 11:10 | 14:52 |
Thursday January 18, 2024 | Stage 3 | 11:10 | 14:49 |
Friday January 19, 2024 | Stage 4 | 11:10 | 14:48 |
Saturday January 20, 2024 | Stage 5 | 11:10 | 14:31 |
Sunday January 21, 2024 | Stage 6 | 11:10 | 14:31 |
Races
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Tour Down Under 202413 January 2024 - 21 January 2024 | South Australia | WorldTour
- Men's Tour Down Under – Can Jayco-AlUla continue their run of early 2024 success?
- Tour Down Under past winners
- Tour Down Under 2024 route
Latest Content on the Race
![Eddy Merckx' Eddy Merckx](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aY7Sw9rK4nrddm2fw8pnMF-320-80.jpg)
The Eddy Merckx bike raced by the Cannibal - Gallery
By Will Jones published
Member exclusive With the relaunch of Eddy Merckx bikes, I dug these photos out from my archive
![LORNE AUSTRALIA JANUARY 25 Lucas Plapp of Australia and Team JaycoAlUla prior to the 2nd Surf Coast Classic 2024 Mens Elite a 155km one day race from Lorne to Torquay on January 25 2024 in Lorne Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wJqbCmMaArThkqz2V5z5Gg-320-80.jpg)
‘Dressing the wounds, screaming in the shower’ – Plapp tests recovery from Tour Down Under crash
By Simone Giuliani published
News Australian champion lines up heavily bandaged at Surf Coast Classic, testing waters before Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
![Riders take on stage two at the Tour Down Under 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9UhHriXab27syzV7hk6wXN-320-80.jpg)
Changing of the Seasons - Tour Down Under gallery
By Dan Challis published
Member exclusive As the first race of the men's WorldTour, the TDU offered an insightful and stunning curtain-raiser to the season
![Sam Welsford, Stephen Williams, and Isaac Del Toro played starring roles at the 2024 Tour Down Under](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f44JJJdCLyiwsuW57LcyzG-320-80.jpg)
Seven conclusions from the Tour Down Under - From unexpected winners to chasing time on Willunga Hill
By Simone Giuliani published
Analysis An Israel-Premier Tech triumph, a wild WorldTour debut and sprinting momentum for Sam Welsford
![Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) during the 2024 Down Under Classic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t568GsdTHCBpxiPKKkf6ek-320-80.jpg)
Elia Viviani vying for Giro d'Italia selection and track Olympic glory in 2024
By Sophie Smith published
News Italian fears Ineos trade teammate could be biggest obstacle to track gold
![Jhonatan Narvaez](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JKNxnFc24UbqQ28G4ush7f-320-80.jpg)
‘We put it all on the line’ - Sting of second for Ineos with Narvaez at Tour Down Under
By Simone Giuliani published
News Ecuadorian comes in behind race winner Stephen Williams in dash to line at top of Mount Lofty, also taking second overall
![Tour Down Under 2024 winner Stephen Williams with his Israel-Premier Tech teammates](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjiM58tswsDwpqPd74dnuY-320-80.jpg)
‘He’s a bloody champion’ - Confidence key to Williams’ Tour Down Under triumph
By Sophie Smith published
News Israel-Premier Tech puncheur won stage six to secure the overall race win and is now focusing on the Ardennes Classics
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Top News on the Race
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Battle of the Brits: Just one final showdown remains in tight Tour Down Under shakeout
Australian race always expected to be tight but two riders enter final stage with no gap and line in close proximity -
‘Willunga always won in last 800m’ - Patience pays off for Israel-Premier Tech at Tour Down Under
Stephen Williams leads after penultimate stage, sports director Sam Bewley confident squad can finish the job at Mount Lofty -
‘Tomorrow actually suits him better than Willunga’ - Ochre chase for Onley on final Tour Down Under stage
British rider nets first win of career on stage 5 of Australian WorldTour race but misses out on top spot, for now at least
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Brodie Chapman and Tasman Nankervis win first edition of RADL GRVL in South Australia
Intense battles to the line in new gravel race running alongside Tour Down Under -
‘You can’t deny it’: Sam Welsford proves he is fastest sprinter at Tour Down Under
Days into a new contract and new campaign the Australian has already won almost as many times as he did in all of 2023 -
Luke Plapp out of Tour Down Under following stage 3 crash
Australian champion not starting stage 4 'due to discomfort and ongoing pain from a large amount of wounds'
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‘You can turn your brain off, they’ll do the whole thing for you’: Welsford praises Bora-Hansgrohe Tour Down Under leadout
The fight for Welsford’s wheel on stage 3 was more intense than the sprint to the line -
Caleb Ewan feeling the pressure ahead of final Tour Down Under sprint
Australian lost teammate Luke Plapp to a crash and has a final chance to win a sprint in Port Elliot on Friday -
Luke Plapp crashes on stage 3 of Tour Down Under, finishes with 'lots of skin lost'
Australian national champion at bottom of pile of tangled up riders that crashed on Gorge Road
Related Features
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The Eddy Merckx bike raced by the Cannibal - Gallery
With the relaunch of Eddy Merckx bikes, I dug these photos out from my archive -
‘I don’t know where I will be next year’ - Julian Alaphilippe rides back into red zone via the Tour Down Under
Soudal-Quick Step leader goes back to basics to return to his best and discover his future -
Changing of the Seasons - Tour Down Under gallery
As the first race of the men's WorldTour, the TDU offered an insightful and stunning curtain-raiser to the season -
Seven conclusions from the Tour Down Under - From unexpected winners to chasing time on Willunga Hill
An Israel-Premier Tech triumph, a wild WorldTour debut and sprinting momentum for Sam Welsford -
George Bennett finds 'selfish gene again' as GC leader with Israel-Premier Tech
Kiwi climber relaxed at Tour Down Under with freedom to go for Grand Tour stage wins in 2024