Arabic version: جولة أستراليا تحتضن مراحل تاريخية مشتركة للرجال والنساء

Australia’s Tour Down Under will make history as the first UCI World Tour race to feature men’s and women’s stages on the same day and course. The event, set to kick off the 2027 season, will include a six-stage men’s race starting on January 19, followed by a three-stage women’s event beginning on January 22.

According to BBC News, this change marks a significant shift in the event’s structure, which previously held the women’s race prior to the men’s. The Tour Down Under was already a pioneer in 2018 by offering equal prize money for both men’s and women’s competitions.

Carlee Taylor, assistant race director, emphasized the importance of this development, stating it showcases the strength of the women’s peloton and reflects the growth of women’s cycling. Stuart O’Grady, the race director, noted that the UCI challenged them to create a more condensed racing program, which led to this innovative approach of combining the events.

The new schedule reduces the gap for women’s riders between the two early season events in Australia, with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race typically staged in late January or early February.