It's January, we've waited long enough: it's time for the season's start! Now, the exact start of the season is a source of disagreement for cycling fans, but for me it can't start early enough, and that means: the Australian Summer. Our first stop is the Santos Women's Tour Down Under. Unlike the men's equivalent, this race isn't a World Tour race. Nevertheless, it draws a strong crowd of riders who are all eager to prove themselves in the first big race of the year.



The race counts four stages, beginning the 11th of January and reaching the finish in Adelaide on the 14th. Let's start with a quick look at the stages, before moving on to the participants.

The route

Stage 1: Gumeracha - Gumeracha. 115.7km. Sprint.

On the first day, the ladies will ride two laps of a circuit around Gumeracha. Roughly halfway through the circuit lies the "Cyanide Climb", which will count towards the mountain standings on the second pass through. Passing through the finish line, the peloton or break away collects points for the intermediate sprint. It's still early season, so the hilly terrain might peel some riders off of the back of the pack, but a sizeable group should arrive together at the finish line for the sprint.

Stage 2: Lyndoch - Mengler's Hill. 102 km. Uphill finish.

Stage 3: The Bend Motorsport Park - Hahndorf. 122.4 km. Hills.

Stage three is the longest stage of the Women's Tour Down Under. Instead of going north, the riders are taken into the hills south of Adelaide for this stage. Most of the rise from sea level to the finish at 380 metres is done gradually throughout the stage, but the final kilometres are rough. The Comet Mine Climb starts from about 4 km to go and peaks at 12.2% gradient before dipping again for a fast run into a very steep though short uphill sprint over the last 500m at Hahndorf.  The stage is sure to explode early on, with teams trying to tire out their rivals on the slopes halfway through the stage or even catch the competition unaware with an all out attack.

Stage 4: People's Choice Criterium, Adelaide. 46 km. 

Last year's edition of the Santos Women's Tour Down Under included two stages in line and two criteriums. This year, there's just the one: The People's Classic on the streets of Adelaide. It's 46 km long and consists of 20 laps of just two-and-a-bit kilometres length. It will be fast, is will be dangerous and it will be merciless. Not likely to bring any changes into the GC in itself, it is imperative for the GC leader to keep up with the sprint trains lest they lag behind in the ultra-speed fest.

The Competitors

As always, the Greenedge team -named Mitchelton-Scott for the 2018 season- will bring a strong team to their home race. This year, though, there's plenty of other teams to pick up the gauntlet, and Mitchelton-Scott is far from certain to turn their two back-to-back victories into a three-peat.


Mitchelton-Scott does bring a strong selection to the line: Their two leaders are Amanda Spratt and Annemiek van Vleuten. Amanda Spratt is the reigning champion, having taken the jersey on the first stage of the 2017 edition a year ago. Spratt has been training to be in top shape during this part of the season, so she is definitely poised to defend her title, but unlike last year, she has to share her team support with another. Van Vleuten is one of the biggest stars of women's cycling, and is a top favourite now wherever she starts. In 2017, Van Vleuten also rode the Tour Down Under, but with the clear intent to support her teammates while building up her shape for later in the season. It's hard to say how her form is now, but she is listed as a co-leader, so keep a watchful eye on her. The tougher route might tempt Van Vleuten to give the GC a serious attempt. They've got support from huge talent Lucy Kennedy, Alex Manly and Jessica Allen. Allen delivered a strong effort in the Australian National Championships by being in the break away all day, but will probably have to ride in the peloton for her two leaders. Sarah Roy will be the team's sprinter, if the team decides to get mixed up in the sprints that is.

For the GC, the biggest competitor comes from rather close to home: the Australian National Selection. It's compromised of riders from some of the biggest teams in women's cycling, including two former Orica riders: Rachel Neylan, now with Movistar, and Katrin Garfoot, now without a contract by choice, as she's set to retire after the commonwealth games. Garfoot is a previous winner of the TdU, and was very strong during the nationals. Surprise favourite from this group might be Lauren Kitchen, who, like teammate Shara Gillow rides for FDJ. Kitchen was second in the Australian Nationals, beating many in the sprint after being in the break all day. Last year, Kitchen managed to finish just off the podium in the GC, but that was a route with a lot less hills. The question is: can Kitchen, generally more a rouleur and sprinter, survive Mengler's Hill?

Another GC candidate is Trek-Drops' Taylor Wiles. Wiles is one of the team's most notable inbound transfers -making up for more notable outbound transfers. The 28 year old enjoyed a breakthrough 2017 season with UHC, winning the Tour de Gila and running up second in the Women's Tour of Czechia. Eva Buurman is another rider joining Trek-Drops after a breakthrough 2017, and the team is heavily promoting her presence at the Tour Down Under.


In the sprints, there are a few stand out names: Australian top sprinter Chloe Hosking is definitely the first to mention. She is an Australian superstar, who takes home more sprint jerseys than stage victories, but will definitely be the marked rider in this years sprints. With Roxanne Kneteman joining her team Hosking is ensured of a good lead-out. At least one of her main competitors will be a compatriot: Annette Edmondson, time trialist and sprinter for Wiggle, is especially adept at riding criteriums. A third challenger for the sprints comes from a team focused on sprinters: Cyclance. Now Kirsten Wild has taken her leave of the team, they have attracted Giorgia Bronzini as their leading sprinter. The last name worth mentioning in this context is freshly crowned Australian champion Shannon Malseed.

The Predictions

Follow the race online with the hashtags #TDU and #WTDU.