Australia 17 Jan – 19 Jan 2026 Class 2.WWT – Stages – UCI Women’s WorldTour
Website tourdownunder.com.au
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Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The women’s Santos Tour Down Under has transformed from a series of local exhibition races into the prestigious opening event of the UCI Women’s WorldTour. Its history is defined by a rapid ascent in professional status and a pioneering commitment to gender equality in prize money.
Timeline of Evolution
- 2011–2015: The Criterium EraBefore becoming a sanctioned stage race, women’s racing at the Tour Down Under consisted of a series of exhibition criteriums. These were held alongside the men’s event to showcase local talent, with riders like Chloe Hosking (2011) and Judith Arndt (2012) taking early titles.
- 2016: The Official FoundingThe event officially became the Santos Women’s Tour, a UCI 2.2 ranked stage race. Australian Katrin Garfoot became the inaugural professional winner.
- 2018: A Global Milestone for EqualityThe race was upgraded to UCI 2.1 status. Crucially, the South Australian Government announced that the women’s race would offer the exact same prize money as the men’s race, making it a world leader in sporting equity. This year also saw the introduction of the iconic Ochre Jersey for the women’s leader.
- 2020: ProSeries StatusThe race was elevated to the UCI ProSeries. American Ruth Winder won this edition, becoming the first non-Australian and first non-Mitchelton–Scott rider to take the overall title.
- 2021–2022: The Pandemic HiatusDue to COVID-19, the international event was replaced by the “Santos Festival of Cycling,” a domestic-focused race. Sarah Gigante (2021) and Ruby Roseman-Gannon (2022) won these editions, though they are often categorized separately from the UCI WorldTour lineage.
- 2023: UCI WorldTour ElevationThe race officially joined the UCI Women’s WorldTour, the highest level of international cycling. It now serves as the season opener for the world’s elite teams.
Past Winners (UCI Era)
The race has historically been dominated by Australian “powerhouse” riders, particularly Amanda Spratt, who remains the most successful athlete in the event’s history.
| Year | Winner | Nationality | Team |
| 2025 | Noemi Rüegg | Switzerland | EF Education-Oatly-Cannondale |
| 2024 | Sarah Gigante | Australia | AG Insurance–Soudal |
| 2023 | Grace Brown | Australia | FDJ–Suez |
| 2020 | Ruth Winder | USA | Trek–Segafredo |
| 2019 | Amanda Spratt | Australia | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 2018 | Amanda Spratt | Australia | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 2017 | Amanda Spratt | Australia | Orica–Scott |
| 2016 | Katrin Garfoot | Australia | Orica–AIS |
Current Status (2026)
As of the 2026 edition, the race has continued to grow in difficulty and distance. The current route covers nearly 400km over three days—the longest in its history—and features iconic climbs like Corkscrew Road and Paracombe, signaling its shift from a sprinter-friendly race to a true test for world-class climbers.
