The 2008 Tour Down Under will be held from 20 - 27 January 2008.

The new race routes and event details will be available on our new website from Thursday 12th July 2007 at 1pm (ACST)

 Ride "The Tour" From Mannum To Strathalbyn

Participants in the Mutual Community Challenge Tour on Friday 25 January 2008, will pedal the same 134km route between Mannum and Strathalbyn as the world’s elite cyclists in Stage 4 of the 2008 Tour Down Under, which celebrates a 10th anniversary as Australia’s most successful cycling event.

A shorter ride option of 73.5km from Woodside to Strathalbyn is also available for those seeking a more leisurely ride.

Announcing the new race route today the Minister for Tourism, Hon Jane Lomax-Smith called upon riders to start practising now for the popular Mutual Community Challenge Tour.

"I urge all potential participants seeking fitness and fun to don the lycra and begin training now," she said.

"South Australia’s Tour Down Under gives our regional areas near Adelaide a brilliant opportunity to throw a party and they always celebrate with a passion," Minister Lomax-Smith says. "When the Tour visited Mannum for the first time last year, the community really got behind the event and created a fantastic carnival atmosphere enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors."

"The Mutual Community Challenge Tour is the perfect opportunity for recreational cyclists to ride the same route as the top names of world cycling in the Tour Down Under," said Minister for Tourism.

"The 2007 Mutual Community Challenge Tour saw record participation, with 2696 riders taking part.

Eric Granger, State Manager SA & NT, Mutual Community, said that Mutual Community was thrilled to be continuing their sponsorship of the Mutual Community Challenge Tour.

"We are pleased to continue our association with the Challenge Tour, an event that ties in well with our bjectives to promote physical activity and healthy living."

o "The Mutual Community Challenge Tour is a must for all cyclists, and the new route against a backdrop of the River Murray will provide an exciting and challenging ride for participants."

The 2008 Tour Down Under features an expanded program of festivities, which will include an extra day of racing action.

Registrations for the 2008 Mutual Community Challenge Tour, Fun Tour and Mini Tour for Kids will be officially open from 12 July 2007. Recreational cyclists can register online at www.tourdownunder.com.au. To make sure you don’t miss out register your interest now with Kylie Wills at wills.kylie@saugov.sa.gov.au

Full details in relation to the 2008 Tour Down Under stages and race routes will be announced at the event launch, 12 July 2007.

PUSH TO MAKE TOUR DOWN UNDER FIRST PROFESSIONAL RACE OUTSIDE OF EUROPE
The SA Government has begun lobbying to have South Australia's Tour Down Under as the first ProTour race outside of Europe beginning in 2009, following a meeting in London between Premier Mike Rann and world cycling boss, Pat McQuaid.
Premier Rann says the Government will begin making a serious effort to achieve ProTour status for the Tour Down Under prior to a decision being made in Stuttgart, Germany by the Union Cycliste Internationale Council in September this year.
South Australia will be competing with countries such as Qatar, Bahrain and Malaysia to become the first country to achieve professional status outside of Europe. California is also bidding to join the Pro Tour circuit.
"We intend to lodge our bid by the end of June, but lobbying for it will be ongoing right through until the final decision is announced in September," Mr Rann said.
"The meeting with Mr McQuaid was very positive, but there is a long way to go yet. I will be personally lobbying key figures in world cycling.
"Being part of the international cycling ProTour series will massively increase the Tour Down Under's international television audience and press coverage and significantly increase visitor numbers.
"Because the Tour Down Under is run through some of South Australia's finest landscapes, including the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Adelaide Hills as well as Adelaide, ProTour status will give us the kind of international coverage money can't buy.
UCI ProTour events consist of 20 ProTour teams which are ranked the top 20 cycling teams in the world. At the moment only about five or six ProTour teams compete in the Tour Down Under.
ProTour status for the event will mean that 20 ProTour ranked teams must compete at the Tour Down Under.
"Becoming part of the UCI ProTour event calendar will attract more international and interstate visitors, providing an opportunity to promote South Australia to the world.
"A ProTour status event will reinforce the States position as the leader in cycle tourism in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 2007 Tour Down Under event has been labelled another success with the debut of 14 teams and an increased recreational cycling participation program. The 2008 Tour Down Under will celebrate 10 great years when it is held from 19 - 27 January 2008.
"We will be significantly upgrading the race and looking to schedule in a series of complimentary events around the race to make it part of an annual festival of cycling in South Australia," Mr Rann said.