Published on 09 November 2021
The Santos Festival of Cycling returns
Organisers of the Santos Festival of Cycling have released its 2022 program, with the City of Onkaparinga to host a men's and women's stage during the event (21– 29 January).
Kicking off on Friday 21 January with the Adelaide Track League event at Adelaide Superdome, the dynamic nine-day program offers more than 25 events and will highlight multiple cycling disciplines including road, track, BMX, mountain biking, para-cycling, cyclo-cross, pedal prix and much more.
City of Onkaparinga will host the Women's Westpac Stage 2: McLaren Vale to Echunga on Monday 24 January, and the Men's Be Safe Be Seen Stage 3: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill on Saturday 29 January.
The Santos Festival of Cycling replaces the traditional UCI WorldTour Santos Tour Down Under in 2022.
Santos CEO and Managing Director Kevin Gallagher said he was excited to confirm a first-class program that would deliver overwhelming benefit to the people of South Australia.
“We are thrilled to be able to contribute to an event of this scope and scale to Adelaide and the regions,” said Kevin Gallagher.
“There has never been a more important time to support local business and the tourism industry. The Santos Festival of Cycling is the ideal opportunity for people to explore South Australia, increasing the economic benefits to the communities involved,” said Kevin Gallagher.
Race directors Stuart O’Grady and Kimberley Conte have designed the elite women’s and men’s road stages throughout Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula.
“The stages are designed to feature not only some of the most iconic scenery recognised around the world but provides a unique opportunity for teams to feature their riders’ particular strengths,” said Kimberley Conte.
“The mix of natural terrain from the lush vineyards of the Barossa to the undulating Adelaide hillside in full bloom, and the gritty coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula sets this event apart on the cycling calendar.
Designing the stages for the Santos Festival of Cycling this year gives competitors, onlookers and cycling enthusiasts an array of new tracks added to the program, for the ultimate endurance test,” said Stuart O’Grady.
“We think carefully about the start and finish locations, every road, each turn for a balanced and challenging stage to create a fresh and dynamic course which requires a high level of athleticism across the peloton of 140 riders will face in January,” said Stuart O’Grady.
This year, the festival features a new and exciting expanded Para-Cycling program including three event opportunities to watch and celebrate our Tokyo cycling Paralympians, as well as several other paracycling races as part of the Festival Village program.
As the heart of the festival, the City of Adelaide Festival Village is the central meeting spot and pulse of entertainment for the cycling community and festival goers, activated from 26-29 January.
It will hold the Elite Men’s and Women’s Trek Night Riders criteriums on January 26 followed by other racing and demonstrations including Cyclo-Cross, BMX Freestyle, mountain biking, amateur criterium racing and Pedal Prix.
There will also be plenty of family friendly entertainment including an Australia Day kids concert, pump track and waterplay, as well as a vibrant music line-up of evening concerts, announced in due course.
Events South Australia Executive Director, Hitaf Rasheed is grateful to everyone involved in bringing this major event to the people of South Australia.
In light of the recent COVID-19 Roadmap announcement, event organisers underwent due diligence to exhaust the possibility of delivering the Santos Tour Down Under in 2022.
“The Santos Tour Down Under is Australia’s greatest cycling race, the place where world road cycling starts each year and an event that is very important for South Australia. For that reason it was critical that we again considered the possibility of delivering the event in January 2022.
"After much discussion and consultation with the UCI, along with a range of teams and stakeholders, we have concluded that it’s simply not possible due to the tight timeframes and impact on plans made subsequent to our announcement just over a month ago.
"We now turn our attention and energy to delivering 2022 Santos Festival of Cycling and invite cyclists and cycling fans from all around the country to travel to be part of it. It has the support of AusCycling and the cycling community, and we want to thank all of our event partners,” said Hitaf Rasheed.
The full event schedule and program, plus festival events and ticketing information can be found at
tourdownunder.com.au.
2022 Santos Festival of Cycling Program Summary
Elite Road Races and Criteriums
- Sunday 23 January: Women’s Ziptrak® Stage 1 – Tanunda (start from Chateau Tanunda)-Williamstown
- Monday 24 January: Women’s Westpac Stage 2 – McLaren Vale (start from Penny’s Hill Winery, finish in Echunga)
- Tuesday 25 January: Women’s Be Safe Be Seen Stage 3 – Lobethal-Lobethal
- Wednesday 26 January: Trek Night Riders (Men’s and Women’s) Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi
- Thursday 27 January: Men’s Ziptrak® Stage 1 – Stirling to Lobethal
- Friday 28 January: Men’s Westpac Stage 2 – Mount Lofty Summit to Woodside
- Saturday 29 January: Men’s Be Safe Be Seen Stage 3 – McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill
Cycling Program (excluding Elite Road)
- Friday 21 January:
- Adelaide Track League, Adelaide Superdrome
- Saturday 22 January:
- MTB Gravity Enduro Event, Fox Creek MTB Park
- Adelaide Track League, Adelaide Superdrome (sprint program)
- Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 January:
- National Cup BMX Round (venue TBC)
- Sunday 23 January:
- Santos Paracycling Time Trial = Williamstown
- Thursday 27 January:
- Santos Paracycling Teams Event, Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi
- Norwood Cycling Club Criteriums, Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi
- Friday 28 January:
- Norwood Cycling Club Criteriums, Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi
- MTB XC Short Track Event, Eagle MTB Park
- Saturday 29 January:
- National Cup Cyclo-Cross Event, Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi
City of Adelaide Festival Village
Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 January: Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi, Adelaide