The Santos Tour Down Under will not go ahead in 2021, but a smaller domestic cycling festival is being planned in its place.

“The Santos Tour Down Under is a much-loved event on the world cycling and Australian sporting calendars and we know how important this event is to the people of South Australia. It is for that reason we have done all we can to consider how we can deliver it, but unfortunately in the end it was the international component, with over 400 people that make up the international teams, that proved to be the most difficult to overcome," Events South Australia's Executive Director, Hitaf Rasheed, says.

“We have worked with our stakeholders, SA Health and SA Police to create a successful strategy to bring the international event to South Australia," Ms Rasheed says.

"However, the complexities and risks involved with quarantining and international border closures have ultimately proved too much to ask of some of the teams, who have endured a stressful, challenging and compressed 2020 season that will run later than normal.

“Accordingly, the Santos Tour Down Under with international races will not run in 2021 but we assure everyone it will return to South Australia and the start of the UCI’s world cycling calendars in January 2022, with the full support of the UCI.”

Santos Tour Down Under Race Director Stuart O’Grady says as his first year as Race Director he was always up for a challenge, but that this year had been one hell of a challenge.

“Of course I am disappointed, but given the challenges, our priority needs to be the health and safety of South Australians, our communities, and the international cycling fraternity," Mr O'Grady says.

"I believe that for one year we can put delivering an international event aside, and keep our South Australian heart beating by delivering a new, re-imagined event for cyclists and for communities across the nation."

“We are so devastated that we cannot deliver the Santos Tour Down Under in January, but equally the team has been working on a scenario two – a domestic cycling festival," says Ms Rasheed.

“We are excited about the opportunity to deliver a domestic cycling festival.

"An incredible amount of work has already been undertaken with key stakeholders and we will now go about finalising what that will look like and will look forward to sharing that with everyone later this month."

Kimberly Conte, Race Director, Women’s Santos Tour Down Under says she is disappointed that the race will not be staged in January, however sees a unique opportunity to provide an event in Adelaide that will feature some of South Australia’s most beautiful regions.

“The Santos Tour Down Under has historically acted as a springboard for some of our most promising young athletes and this new event will offer a unique opportunity to showcase our young talented riders.”

Details of the new event will be released in due course, with a program that will be designed to bring visitors from intrastate and interstate to the City of Adelaide and regional communities during a period in January.   

Premier Steven Marshall addressed the cancellation and the replacement event on his Facebook page today (2 November).

"We know many South Australians will be disappointed to not have the Santos Tour Down Under here next year, but the reality is that the international fixture can't go ahead as the world continues to grapple with the global pandemic," Mr Marshall's post reads.

"Facilitating the safe arrival and training of hundreds of international cyclists and support crews isn't logistically feasible," the post continues.

"But the positive news is, the Tour Down Under WILL BE BACK.

"In the meantime, we are working hard to deliver a National Competition for local and interstate cyclists and spectators to enjoy."