Australia’s ARA Men’s Team for the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under
The Santos Tour Down Under remains one of the most important races on the Australian cycling calendar. As the opening event of the Men’s WorldTour season, it presents a demanding early benchmark for riders and teams alike.
For Australian riders selected in the ARA Australian Cycling Team, the race offers an opportunity to measure preparation, resilience, and race execution against fully formed WorldTour squads — on familiar roads, but at uncompromising speed.
Official teams & riders page: Tour Down Under – Teams and Riders
Why the Men’s Tour Down Under Matters for Australian Riders
The men’s Tour Down Under is not simply a season opener — it is a test of readiness. WorldTour teams arrive with depth, structure, and clear objectives, leaving little margin for error for domestic or national squads.
Selection for a national team reflects trust in a rider’s reliability, decision-making, and ability to perform a role under sustained pressure. The lessons gained here often shape opportunities later in the season.
What the 2026 Route Demands
The 2026 route continues to reward all-round capability rather than pure specialists. Rolling terrain, exposed roads, and repeated climbs place emphasis on positioning, tactical discipline, and fatigue management.
For Australian riders stepping up from domestic racing blocks, sustaining pace and focus across multiple stages remains the defining challenge.
Stage Profiles: What to Expect
Prologue — Adelaide (3.6 km Individual Time Trial)
The 2026 Santos Tour Down Under opens with a short but intense 3.6 km prologue through central Adelaide, beginning on Wakefield Street and finishing with a lap of the Victoria Park criterium circuit. This city-centre time trial will be contested on road bikes rather than specialist time-trial equipment, as riders sprint against the clock to set early benchmarks in the overall standings.
This format — only the second prologue in the race’s history — brings immediate intensity to the opening evening, encouraging explosive efforts from riders who excel in short, high-power efforts. While general classification contenders might not be decided here, gaps of a few seconds could influence team tactics heading into the first road stages.
Spectators can expect vibrant city buzz as riders pass close to the Adelaide Tour Village and storm through the Victoria Park circuit, making for an exciting introduction to the men’s WorldTour season.
Men’s Stage 1: Tanunda to Tanunda — Barossa Wine Country Circuit (120.6 km)
The 2026 Santos Tour Down Under’s first road stage takes riders through the heart of South Australia’s iconic Barossa wine region, beginning and finishing along Murray Street in Tanunda. The 120.6 km circuit includes rolling terrain and repeated passages through scenic vineyards, offering both strategic complexity and plenty of opportunity for team tactics to play out early in the race.
Riders will traverse the Barossa countryside with multiple passes through key points including the new Barossa Park sporting precinct, the historic township of Lyndoch, and the slopes of Mengler Hill. While the climbing on Mengler Hill is not decisive enough on its own to split the elite field early, it provides a tactical tussle for positioning and places premium on team discipline and race savvy.
Sprint opportunities are likely to shape the finish, as lead-out trains form and fast men in the peloton aim to capitalise after 120 kilometres of scenic but demanding racing. For Australian riders, Stage 1 presents a balanced mix of local terrain familiarity and early tactical schooling against WorldTour competition.
Men’s Stage 2: Norwood to Uraidla – Adelaide Hills Challenge (148.1 km)
Men’s Stage 2 of the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under heads from The Parade in Norwood into the Adelaide Hills, covering 148.1 km of terrain where climbing and endurance come to the fore. The route takes the peloton out of the city and straight into an uphill rhythm, with varied gradients and rising roads shaping this key early test in the race.
The stage includes sustained efforts on Norton Summit and the Mt Lofty climb — testing early legs and positioning — before riders tackle the notorious Corkscrew Road ascent twice during the day. Corkscrew Road’s steep gradients and punchy profile make it a defining feature capable of shaking up the general classification, particularly when it appears late in the stage.
This stage rewards riders who can blend climbing strength with tactical nous, as the undulating terrain and repeated ascents provide opportunities for breakaways and strategic moves. For Australian competitors familiar with the Adelaide Hills, local experience may be a key advantage against a strong international field.
Men’s Stage 3: Henley Beach to Nairne – Adelaide Hills Test (140.8 km)
Men’s Stage 3 of the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under begins for the first time from Henley Beach before heading southward through Flagstaff Hill and Coromandel Valley into the Adelaide Hills. Covering 140.8 km, this stage introduces rolling terrain and key climbing points that can shape the race ahead of the tougher days to come.
Riders will exit the coastal start and enter a mixed route that traverses communities like Clarendon, Kangarilla, Meadows, and Echunga. Early in the stage, the slopes of Wickham Hill — a category climb with sustained gradients — present the first real opportunity for attacks and selection, especially if conditions heat up on race day.
Mid-stage sprint competition is likely around Echunga, giving fast men a chance to gain bonus seconds or points before the terrain turns more demanding. Later, the ascent on Mount Barker’s Summit Road challenges riders with a short but punchy climb before a final loop toward the first-ever finish in the historic township of Nairne.
Stage 3 rewards riders who can combine climbing ability with stamina and tactical awareness — making it a key early afternoon test for general classification contenders and ambitious breakaway riders alike.
Men’s Stage 4: Brighton to Willunga Hill – Queen Stage (176 km)
Men’s Stage 4 of the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under is one of the most decisive days on the calendar, stretching 176 km from Brighton’s seaside start to a summit finish on Willunga Hill. This “queen stage” packs significant elevation and tactical complexity, with three ascents of Willunga Hill — a climb steeped in Tour Down Under history — that will challenge competitors physically and strategically.
The stage begins at the scenic Brighton Esplanade, heading south along the coast before riders transition into rolling terrain and through McLaren Vale’s vineyards. The repeated climbs up Willunga Hill provide a key battleground for general classification contenders, as gaps formed here often define the podium fight later in the week.
In addition to the triple Willunga Hill ascents, the course also offers intermediate sprint points — such as at Aldinga Beach — that encourage opportunistic racing and energy management. The stage tests both climbers and all-rounders, making it a focal point for teams with overall ambitions and for Australian riders seeking to perform strongly on home soil.
Men’s Stage 5: Stirling to Stirling – Final Hills Showdown (169.8 km)
Men’s Stage 5 closes out the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under with a full circuit around Stirling in the Adelaide Hills, covering 169.8 km of undulating terrain that promises racing right to the line.
This is one of the longest closing stages in recent TDU history, designed by organisers to ensure the general classification battle remains alive until the final day. The route starts and finishes on Mount Barker Road in Stirling, with the peloton looping repeatedly through scenic hill country that includes Heathfield, Mylor and Aldgate.
The stage features multiple categorised climbs — including repeated ascents of the Stirling climb via Mount Barker Road — and plenty of rising roads that sap energy across the day. Intermediate sprints, such as those near Heathfield, add tactical interest, with teams and riders needing to balance breakaway opportunities with careful energy management ahead of the finish.
The finishing loops invite aggressive racing and punchy attacks, as riders seek any advantage they can find on a demanding stage that rewards stamina, positioning, and tactical acumen. This final stage is likely to be a day where grit and race smarts determine who can end the Tour Down Under on a high note.
Meet the ARA Australian Cycling Team Riders
The 2026 men’s squad reflects an emphasis on experience, durability, and dependable support across varied terrain.
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Damien Howson — Experienced WorldTour rider capable of anchoring the team across hilly stages.
Read Damien Howson’s profile -
Chris Harper — Proven climber and stage-race performer, particularly effective in the Adelaide Hills.
Read Chris Harper’s profile -
Liam Walsh — Developing all-rounder continuing to build exposure to elite stage racing.
Read Liam Walsh’s profile -
Pat Eddy — Reliable support rider with strong work ethic in demanding terrain.
Read Pat Eddy’s profile -
Oliver Bleddyn — Endurance-focused rider with time-trial and engine-based strengths.
Read Oliver Bleddyn’s profile -
Matt Greenwood — Consistent domestique capable of covering moves and protecting leaders.
Read Matt Greenwood<’s profile -
Lucas Stevenson — Emerging talent gaining valuable experience against WorldTour competition.
Read Lucas Stevenson’s profile
What Success Looks Like
For the ARA Australian Cycling Team, success is measured through execution rather than results alone. Finishing stages cohesively, managing race pressure, and gaining exposure to sustained WorldTour intensity are key outcomes.
How these riders absorb the demands of the race — and apply those lessons later in the season — will be one of the most important stories to follow.
