The Tour Down Under returns to Port Adelaide, where the inaugural race in 1999 left. Stage 1 travels to Lyndoch in the Barossa wine region for a likely sprint finish. Caleb Ewan took the flowers in 2016 and 2017.
The 2nd stage runs to on a local circuit in Stirling, that’s ridden three times. Two hills spice up these laps and also the finale. The first uphill section is 4.6 kilometres at 3% and following a short descent a 2.4 kilometres climb at 3.8% leads to the passage on the line. The arrival lies just before the top, so the actual finish is uphill.
Stage 3 runs from Glenelg to Victor Harbor and is tailor made for a bunch sprint, while the 4th stage features an interesting finale. 13.2 kilometres before the line the riders hit Norton Summit – 5.8 kilometres at 5% – and following a small plateau the route continues on another uphill section. The race ends with a 3.3 kilometres (gentle) descent into arrival town Uraidla.
Stage 5 is the famous McLaren Vale-Willunga Hill stage. Richie Porte is imperious on this tracé and has dominated Willunga Hill the last four years. The finale is a 3 kilometres closing climb at 7%.
The final stage of the Tour Down Under is unchanged from recent years. The riders race twenty laps of 4.5 kilometres through the centre of Adelaide before a bunch sprints ignites. Caleb Ewan won the Adelaide-stage in 2016 and 2017.
All stages in the Tour Dow Under have two intermediate sprints – all with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds -, while the first three riders on the line in each stage win 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Tour Down Under 2018: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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All stages
Route and profile 1st stage
Route and profile 2nd stage
Route and profile 3rd stage
Route and profile 4th stage
Route and profile 5th stage
Route and profile local circuit 6th stage
Port Adelaide and Adelaide at Google maps
