The most important facts about the Tour Down Under Women in a nutshell
- Date: 17 to 19 January 2026
- Distance: ~395 kilometres
- Start: Willunga Hill, Target: Athelstone
- Profile: 3 stages: 3 hilly stages
- UCI category: Women's World Tour
- Last year's winner: Noemi Rüegg
- Record winner: Amanda Spratt (three times)
Over the years, the Tour Down Under has developed into the largest regularly organised cycling event in the southern hemisphere. Initially, the race was reserved exclusively for men, but from 2011 several women's categories were added, which later became a stage race in their own right. In terms of sporting value, the event has passed through all UCI categories and has been part of the Women's World Tour since 2024. It traditionally marks the start of the season for many teams and is considered an early endurance test for the pros due to the often extreme heat.
Women's Tour Down Under 2026: SD Worx back on board, favourites from Australia
After Team SD Worx - Protime decided not to start the season early in Australia last year, the team is back at the start this year. In addition to the 14 WorldTour teams, the Australian national team is also back. It is not a matter of course that all the WorldTour teams will be at the start. Last year, there were just nine of the 15 teams in the top cycling league, which is why teams from the second division were added. The power density is therefore significantly higher and exciting stages are pre-programmed.
The TOUR favourites by stars*
***** Noemi Rüegg, Ally Wollaston
**** Mavi García, Dominika Włodarczyk, Magdeleine Vallieres
*** Sarah Van Dam, Marion Bunel
** Chloé Dygert, Amanda Spratt
* Margaux Vigié, Marta Lach, Paula Blasi, Ricarda Bauernfeind
* The more stars a driver receives, the higher her chances are rated
Note: At the time of publication of this article, the final start list has not yet been 100 per cent finalised. It is possible that riders mentioned here will not start
The favourites in the TOUR-Check
***** Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
Last year's winner is back at the start after her surprising victory in 2025. Races that a rider has won once stay in her mind, especially if it was the victory that led to her career breakthrough. This should clearly inspire Rüegg and give her additional self-confidence. Categorised as a second-class team last year, EF Education-Oatly is travelling as part of the WorldTour this year. There is also another surprise winner: the newly crowned world champion Magdeleine Vallieres. A strong team, therefore, from which the Swiss rider could benefit.
***** Ally Wollaston (FDJ United - SUEZ)
With Demi Vollering in the team, Ally Wollaston has very clear tasks at the big races of the year. However, things look different at the season opener Down Under. The New Zealander impressively proved that she can also take on the leading role at the Tour of Britain in 2025. She won the four-day tour in a strong field and is in top form from last season.
**** Mavi García (UAE Team ADQ)
Quit at the age of 42? Not an option for the Spaniard Mavi García. By switching to UAE Team ADQ, she is emphasising her ambitions - and quite rightly so. Third place at the World Championships in Rwanda showed once again why García should not be underestimated, even at this age. However, whether she can take on the role of captain is another matter, as Dominika Włodarczyk is an up-and-coming rider at her side.
**** Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ)
UAE Team ADQ's second hot prospect is 24-year-old Dominika Włodarczyk from Poland. She finished fourth in last year's Tour Down Under and fifth in 2024. The logical conclusion for 2026 is the podium. Her fourth place in the Tour de France Femmes, where she shone in the mountains in particular and achieved strong results, would also speak in favour of this.
**** Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly)
The surprise world champion from Rwanda is almost as high up on the list of favourites as her team-mate Rüegg. The internal team hierarchy must of course be clarified, unless the decision is made in favour of a double lead. The Canadian delivers consistently solid results in the classics, but whether it will be enough to win a stage race remains to be seen.
*** Sarah Van Dam (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
Following the dissolution of her old team Ceratizit, the Canadian is now racing for Visma. However, she is probably not the only contender for the leading role in her team, as the young talent Marion Bunel will also be competing in the Tour Down Under. It remains to be seen how Van Dam will fare in a much stronger team.
*** Marion Bunel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
At just 21 years of age, the Frenchwoman has already fully arrived in professional cycling. Together with Sarah Van Dam, she forms a climbing duo that can cause a stir. After a strong season with the Tour victory of her team-mate Ferrand-Prévot and some good placings in smaller tours, Bunel could cause a big surprise.
** Chloé Dygert (CANYON SRAM//zondacrypto)
Double world champion in the time trial and runner-up at the 2024 World Championships in the road race - these are impressive achievements. However, things didn't quite go to plan for the US American last season, she was unable to finish the Vuelta and Tour de France and only came 26th in the Tour Down Under. In the big classics, however, Dygert achieved some top ten results, so the terrain in Australia should suit her.
** Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek)
It is the last year in the cycling circus for the now 38-year-old rider from Australia. Spratt knows only too well what it feels like to win the Tour Down Under. She is the record winner with her successes in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Her farewell tour begins at her home race - which could be a very special farewell with a big surprise.
* The outsiders
Especially as it is the season opener and the riders are coming back to racing action from the training camps, the surprises at the season opener can be big. After the aforementioned favourites, there are therefore a whole host of candidates who could cause quite a stir and turn the classification on its head. Margaux Vigié (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Marta Lach (Team SD Worx - Protime) therefore start the race with rather slim chances. The former will probably be given a role as a helper, while Lach could also line up as captain. Like Vigié, Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) is likely to act as a helper, but special circumstances can always arise in a three-day tour. From a German perspective, Ricarda Bauernfeind (Lidl-Trek) will be at the start with her new team. After an injury, the 25-year-old has been picking up speed again since last season and with a lot of luck could make the leap to the front of the classification.
Leon Weidner
Working student
