Santos Tour Down Under

Possibly incorrectly named as the women's race is only three stages long and is staying in South Australia, while this shows progress as they have a race but in the past there have been 4 stages and longer distances. However there us still a race showing some recognition of the sport and equality as there are two separate races in the same area. The third and final stage of the race is on Sunday and is starting and ending in Stirling.

Each team is sending 6 riders with Neve Bradbury present, first GC race of the year you would expect riders like her to try their luck and aim to start the season off on a high. There are only 5 debutants on the start list so good luck to them in finishing for the first time, illness can come at any time to any person. CERATIZIT-WNT pro cycling team have gone for a different approach and have sent 5 riders who have never raced for that team.

The men's race is six stages long, the first of which is on Tuesday. There are still no mountain stages but only one is flat meaning that any sprinters will have to wait until the end to get a win unless they aren't aiming for that, climbers will still have a chance as categorised climbs will still be present there just wont be as many as in the TDF.

Each team has 7 riders taking part bar dropouts for any reason. Ineos may be hoping to get more top results than last year and this may be a good place to start with Geraint Thomas being on the start list, probably going for a GC win to add to his record. Among the other racers are Jay Vine and Jhonatan Narvaez who is making his debut with UAE Team Emirates XRG after leaving Ineos. Michael Woods will also be present possibly trying to get stage wins or trying to get a GC win to add to his palmares. Team Visma Lease A Bike are sending one of their GC riders (Tijmen Graat) to the race meaning we could have another year of Visma UAE rivalry stripping other teams of possible wins this season.

Stage 1 of the women's Tour down under was won by Daniek Hengeveld with 50km solo. It wouldn't be a proper start to the season without a crash which took place at 56km to go. The leaders of the different classifications are as follows:

GC - Daniek Hengeveld

Points - Daniek Hengeveld

Queen of the mountains - Alyssa Polites

Youth - Alyssa Plites

Teams - CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team