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Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: Route, how to watch, start list and everything you need to know
The 2024 season is a-go. AG Insurance-Soudal’s Sarah Gigante won the Women’s Tour Down Under ahead of Nienke Vinke (DSM-Firmenich-Post NL) with a powerful display of attacking and persistence on Willunga Hill. Now, it’s the men’s turn.
Running from 16th-21st January, the peloton will depart from Tanunda and cover six stages before finishing atop Mount Lofty. It came down to the wire on the final day in 2023 as Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) won at Mount Lofty by millimetres ahead of Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) but Vine held onto the general classification by 11 seconds. Who will be his successor?
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: Key information
- Date: 16th January-21st January
- Start: Tanunda
- Finish: Mount Lundy
- Stages: Six
- Television coverage: Eurosport, Discovery+, Seven Network
- 2023 winner: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates)
- Most wins: Simon Gerrans (4)
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: The route
Like usual, the Men’s Tour Down Under focusses on South Australia and near Adelaide. The race starts from the Barossa Valley region, heading south towards the coast for Stage 4’s finish on Port Elliot. The peloton will then head back north on itself, taking in Willunga Hill before the final day to Mount Lofty.
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: Stage-by-stage preview
Stage 1: Tuesday 16th January, Tanunda – Tanunda, 143km
The opening stage of the men’s Tour Down Under will take place in Tanuda, which is in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia. The peloton will complete three loops of a circuit that incorporates a sprint and before the race’s second consecutive finish on Murray Street.
Both sprints will take place in Angaston at 24km and 79.9km into the race. The three ascents will crest the Category 4 Mengler’s Hill (3.8km, max 13.3%).
Stage 2: Wednesday 17th January, Norwood – Lobethal, 141.6km
The second stage of the men’s Tour Down Under travels to Lobethal via the first climb of the day, the Category 2 Ashton (9.9km, average 5%). Riders will complete three loops of a 35km circuit once they approach Lobethal.
It’s after here that the next King of the Mountains point sits and the punchy Fox Creek awaits (1.6km, average gradient 8.8%, max 17.8%). There are two sprint points coming at 30km and 71km into the day’s racing.
Stage 3: Thursday 18th January, Tea Tree Gully – Campbelltown, 145.3km
No rest for the wicked. The Tea Tree Gully Hill (2km, average 6%, max 15.6%) arrives just 2km after the neutral zone. The Whispering Wall climb follows, and from there it’s crosswind-exposed straight roads to a predicted sprint finish.
A day of nice names – Tea Tree, Whispering Wall – can also add Lyndoch’s Sunrise Bakery and Café to its ranks, where the first sprint point takes place.
Stage 4: Friday 19th January, Murray Bridge – Port Elliot, 136.2km
Another flat stage save for the one 4.1km King of the Mountain point at Gemmell Hill (av. 3.9%, max 10%) with two sprints just before that. The race travels south, heading along the coast after Wellington to Port Elliot.
Stage 5: Saturday 20th January, Christies Beach – Willunga Hill, 129.3km
Some things just go together. Like Willunga Hill and Richie Porte. Sadly he’s retired so someone else will have to win. The iconic 3km climb (av. 7.4%, max 15.6%) returns for two ascents – the latter a summit finish – for a big day in the general classification.
Stage 6: Sunday 21st January, Unley – Mount Lofty, 128.2km
For the first time in the Tour Down Under history Willunga and Mount Lofty will feature in the same edition of the race. Mostly because Mount Lofty made its debut in 2023.
The final stage of the men’s Tour Down Under will depart from Unley and immediately head to the first climb at Windy Point (3.8km, av. 6%, max 20%). From there it’s south to Meadows before immediately turning north towards Aldgate. Here, the peloton will circle around for two (and a bit) laps, ascending Mount Lofty (1.3km, av. 7.3%, max 13.3%) three times, the third being the summit finish, where the next ochre jersey will be won.
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: Live TV and streaming guide
The Men’s Tour Down Under will still be available to watch in the UK on Eurosport and Discovery+. Discovery+ costs £6.99 for the more basic package, which includes cycling and all other Eurosport programmes.
In Australia you can catch the action with the likes of Phil Liggett and Anna Meares on 7plus, 7two and 7mate. The latter is a sensational name for an Australian channel. Highlights will be shown on 7plus. In New Zealand, the race is being shown on Sky.
Elsewhere, coverage will be on SuperSport in Africa; NBC in the United States; FloBikes in the US and Canada; Eurosport, J Sports (Japan) and Zhibo (China) in Asia Pacific and Oceania; Eurosport, L’Équipe (France), TV2 (Denmark) and RTVE (Spain) in Europe; ESPN in Latin America; and Abu Dhabi Sport TV in the Middle East.
If it’s not being shown in your country, you may be able to watch coverage using a VPN – Virtual Private Network – which allows users to mask their IP address and watch geo-blocked content, provided they don’t need to pay for a subscription. This is also helpful for watching paid-for coverage while travelling abroad in countries without access. One such example is ExpressVPN, which is very well reviewed, helps users to find way to watch cycling without having to pay for broadcasters services, and costs £5.36 per month with three-months free.
- Read more: How to watch pro cycling post-GCN+
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: TV and streaming times
Stage 1: Tuesday 16th January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 05:00
7plus: 11:00 – 15:30 ACDT
7two: 11:00 – 12:00 (followed by 12:00 – 15:30 on 7)
Stage 2: Wednesday 17th January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 05:00
7plus and 7mate: 11:00 – 15:30 ACDT
Stage 3: Thursday 18th January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 05:00
7plus and 7mate: 11:00 – 15:30 ACDT
Stage 4: Friday 19th January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 05:00
7plus and 7mate: 11:00 – 15:30 ACDT
Stage 5: Saturday 20th January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 04:30
7plus and 7mate: 11:00 – 15:00 ACDT
Stage 6: Sunday 21st January
Eurosport and Discovery+: 00:30 – 04:30
7plus and 7two: 11:00 – 15:00 ACDT
Men’s Tour Down Under 2024: Start list
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
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