New date: Oceania Championships brought forward to take place before the Tour Down Under

With the WorldTour season about to begin, the international racing calendar is set to see a significant change: from 2027, the Oceania Road Championships will be held in Adelaide for the first time and will take place immediately before the Santos Tour Down Under. The organisers announced this on Friday.

The Oceania regional championships will be held from 15 to 17 January 2027 in the South Australian metropolis, marking the first time they have formed part of the opening weekend of the Santos Festival of Cycling. The programme includes road races and individual time trials for men and women in the Elite, U23 and U19 categories.

New date ahead of the European classics

The change in the calendar is particularly interesting. Until now, the Oceania Championships have usually taken place in March or April. By moving the event to January, the organisers hope to attract more professional riders before they head off to join their European teams and begin their racing programmes.

“Bringing the event forward to before the Santos Tour Down Under gives top professionals the chance to compete for the Oceania jersey and then wear it in Europe,” explained Tony Mitchell, President of Oceania Cycling. The federation’s announcement does not specify which top professionals Mitchell hopes will take part as a result of the earlier start date.

The start of a major cycling festival

The Oceania Championships will also mark the start of an exceptionally packed week of racing. This will be immediately followed by the 2027 Tour Down Under, which will take place from 19 to 24 January. For the first time, the men’s and women’s races will be held on the same days and over identical distances.

As well as the continental championship titles, the first round of the ProVelo Super League Series will also take place during the race weekend.

Adelaide is cementing its status as a cycling stronghold

By hosting the Oceania Championships, Adelaide is cementing its role as one of the most important centres for cycling in the Southern Hemisphere. The city has been home to the Tour Down Under for more than two decades and has previously hosted World Championships, World Cups and national and continental championships in various disciplines.

The organisers intend to announce the exact routes for the road races and time trials in the coming weeks.