'To have men's and women's stage racing on the same day and over the same course is an exciting new frontier' – Tour Down Under makes landmark change for 2027

The Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) is set to make history in 2027 by becoming the first UCI WorldTour event to host men’s and women’s stage races on the same course and on the same day. While the men’s race will continue as a six-day event, the women’s competition will be condensed into three stages overlapping with the final days of the men’s race. This landmark change aims to enhance the visibility of women’s racing and streamline logistics for teams, marking a significant evolution in the organisation of professional cycling events. Traditionally, the TDU has staged the women’s race earlier in January and the men’s event later in the month. However, from 2027, both races will run concurrently from 19 to 24 January, pending final approval from the UCI calendar. On days when men’s and women’s races coincide, the women will start approximately 90 minutes after the men, racing over the identical routes. This adjustment responds to feedback from women’s teams concerned about the costs and complexities of remaining in Australia for multiple WorldTour events, such as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Race director Stuart O’Grady highlighted that the UCI’s challenge to condense the women’s program was embraced as an opportunity to innovate and bring both genders’ races closer together, culminating in a strong final weekend. Assistant race director Carlee Taylor emphasised the significance of this move as a new frontier for the event, reflecting the rapid growth and increasing competitiveness of women’s cycling since the women’s race was introduced in 2016. The organisers also anticipate live broadcasts of both races, aiming to maximise exposure and fan engagement. The decision follows recent criticism of other major races, such as Paris-Roubaix Femmes, where scheduling the women’s race on the same day as the men’s event led to reduced media coverage for the women. By contrast, the TDU’s approach seeks to balance shared race days with dedicated attention to the women’s peloton, potentially setting a precedent for future events. This evolution underscores the broader movement towards equality and integration in professional cycling, with the TDU continuing its pioneering role since becoming the first event to offer equal prize money to men and women in 2018.