Tour Down Under 2020 routes revealed: Willunga, Paracombe to decide men’s GC
Organisers of the Santos Tour Down Under have revealed the courses that will make up the men’s and women’s races in 2020.
The 21st edition of the men’s race runs from January 19-26 and comprises the Down Under Classic criterium (which doesn’t contribute to the GC) and six road stages. Four of those stages are likely to finish in a bunch sprint, including stage 2 which concludes with the oft-used uphill drag into Stirling.
Two stages will help shape the GC: stage 3 with its uphill finish into Paracombe, and stage 6 which ends with the now-traditional double ascent of Willunga Hill.
The sixth edition of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under will again be held before the men’s race — from January 16 to 19 — and will be contested over four stages. Stages 1 to 3 are all lumpy and could impact the GC, but only stage 3 — which finishes in Stirling — features an uphill finish. The final ramp is the same as the one that will be used by the men’s race on stage 2. As usual, the final stage of the women’s race is a circuit race in Adelaide, held the same afternoon, on the same circuit, as the men’s Down Under Classic.
Course breakdown
Men’s race
Down Under Classic (51km): The circuit moves to Flinders St, near the TDU event village. 30 laps of a flat 1.7km circuit.
Stage 1 (150km): A circuit race around Tanunda that should end in a bunch sprint.
Stage 2 (135.8km): The traditional Stirling stage with three laps around the finishing circuit and an uphill drag to the line.
Stage 3 (131km): Paracombe uphill finish. A couple kilometres at about 9%.
The profile of stage 3.
Stage 4 (152.8km): A sprint finish in Murray Bridge.
Stage 5 (149.1km): Probably a sprint in Victor Harbour but a late climb could be a good launch pad.
Stage 6 (151.5km): Twice up Willunga, finishing at the top of the second ascent.
The profile for the Willunga stage.
Women’s race
Stage 1 (116.3km): Lumpy stage into Macclesfield with a flat finish.
Stage 2 (114.9km): A sprint into Birdwood.
Stage 3 (109.1km): Two laps of a tough finishing circuit around Stirling, uphill finish.
Stage 4 (42.5km): Dead flat circuit race. 25 laps of the 1.7km circuit.
The profile for stage 3 of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under.
For more information about the 2020 Tour Down Under, follow the link to the event website.
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