The Tour Down Under has become the latest South Australian event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Key points:
- The Tour Down Under will not go ahead in January 2021
- Difficulty getting cyclists in from overseas has been blamed
- A smaller domestic event will be held instead
Organisers blamed uncertainty around international border conditions and quarantine requirements when they announced last night that the cycling event, which was scheduled for January, would not go ahead.
They said those measures were a major challenge in bringing international cycling teams to South Australia.
SA Health and SA Police had both been in talks with organisers to allow international riders to quarantine and continue training, but were unable to reach a suitable compromise.
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“The complexities and risks involved with quarantining and international border closures have ultimately proved too much to ask of some of the teams, who have endured a stressful, challenging and compressed 2020 season that will run later than normal.
“Accordingly, the Santos Tour Down Under with international races will not run in 2021, but we assure everyone it will return to South Australia and the start of the UCI’s world cycling calendars in January 2022, with the full support of the UCI.”
The Women’s Tour Down Under has also been cancelled.
A smaller domestic cycling festival is planned in January instead.
It comes after the Adelaide 500 Supercars race was cancelled last week, although that was blamed on falling crowd numbers and corporate sponsorship.
Tour Down Under race director Stuart O’Grady said it was a disappointing outcome in his first year in the role.
“I believe that for one year we can put delivering an international event aside, and keep our South Australian heart beating by delivering a new, re-imagined event for cyclists and for communities across the nation,” O’Grady said.
The organisers of Victoria’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race also confirmed last night the event would not be held in January.
“I would like to thank our volunteers, local workforce and incredible partners for their unwavering support,” race director Scott Sunderland said.
“We can’t wait to join with them and come back bigger and better in 2022.”
