The Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) is Australia’s greatest cycling event and 2020 sees the 22^nd consecutive year Adelaide has hosted the best riders from around the globe for the first race of the UCI World Tour.

The TDU festival starts on Thursday 16 January with race day celebrations and the first of the women’s stages, and ends on the Australia Day public holiday on Monday 27 January with the Vale Market in McLaren Vale.

There’s good news for local enthusiasts with Stages 5 and 6 traversing the spectacular Fleurieu Peninsula.

On Saturday 25 January, Stage 5 starts at Glenelg at 10.40am and finishes in Victor Harbor at about 2.40pm.

Vantage points for this 149.1 km race are at Old Noarlunga, McLaren Flat, Meadows, Macclesfield and Strathalbyn; then the route heads south through Currency Creek, Goolwa, Middleton and Port Elliot, before the Victor Harbor finish.

There’s plenty of good viewing on this stage, especially the Kerby Hill climb on Crows Nest Road, Port Elliot.

On Sunday 26 January the final stage — the 151.5 km Be Safe Be Seen Stage 6 — starts at 10.40am on Main Road, McLaren Vale.

It takes the traditional route through vineyards then along the coastline of Sellicks, Snapper Point and Port Willunga before the steep and challenging King of the Mountain race to the finish at the top of Willunga Hill, where you’ll catch the best of the day’s play.

The City of Onkaparinga will host three public events where you can watch trackside or on a big screen for up-to-the minute commentary. There’ll be entertainment, food stalls, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Party in the Park, at Ellis Park, McLaren Vale, starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm; Aldinga Bay Beach Market will be held at Snapper Point between 9am and 3pm; and Tour Willunga will be in the Old Courthouse grounds on High Street between 10am and 4pm.

For more information visit the Tour Down Under and City of Onkaparinga websites. You can also go online for the event calendar and for details of the women's and men’s stages.