The season starts at the Women’s TDU
The moment all cycling fans have been waiting for has arrived: a new road cycling season is here, and as usual, the starting point will be in Adelaide, in southern Australia, with the Tour Down Under. This season, the women’s race will have the honor of opening the season with a three-stage race that includes a double climb to Willunga Hill in the second stage as the main attraction.
Route
As mentioned, the race consists of three stages. The first is the flattest and the best opportunity for sprinters. The second stage is the queen stage of this edition of the Women’s Tour Down Under and will see riders tackle the iconic Willunga Hill (3.4 km at 7.3%) twice. Finally, the third stage will take place on a 25-kilometer circuit featuring constant ups and downs on hills near Adelaide.
Favorites
Niamh Fisher-Black (800), Neve Bradbury (600), Elise Chabbey (1000), Noemi Rüegg (400), Karlijn Swinkels (800), Chloe Dygert (800), Amber Kraak (600), Justine Ghekiere (600), Amanda Spratt (600), and Ruth Edwards (200) are some of the favorites for the final two stages and the overall classification.
For the sprint on the first day, in addition to Dygert herself, Clara Copponi (400), Rachele Barbieri (200), Georgia Baker (200), Ally Wollaston (400), Ruby Roseman-Gannon (600), Kathrin Schweinberger (200), Maike Van Der Duin (400), Sarah Roy (200), Sofia Bertizzolo (400), and Alexandra Manly (200) are among the fastest riders on the start list.
Photo: © Tour Down Under