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2007 Tour wraps up with a guarantee for the future

The Tour Down Under is helping to put South Australia on the world map and will remain as a major tourism event for the State into the future, Premier Mike Rann guaranteed today.

As the event gears up for its 10th birthday in 2008, Premier Rann says the Tour attracts thousands of tourists and generates the kind of worldwide media coverage that money cannot buy.

“No-one can take this event away from us – the State Government owns the Tour Down Under, we run the Tour Down Under and it’s ours to keep.

“We have backed up this commitment with extra funding of up to $2 million over the next four years to make the event bigger, better and even more prominent on the world stage.

“We had an expanded field of teams this year and the Tour is already the highest ranked cycling road race in the southern hemisphere, but we want to take it to even greater heights in the future.

“We are positioning the event to become one of the first ProTour races outside of Europe, with a direct request already made to the President of the United Cycling Institute, Pat McQuaid.

“We want it to become the first event of the year on an expanded, more international ProTour calendar, ranked alongside some of the biggest races in Europe.”

Premier Rann says the 2007 Tour Down Under has been an outstanding success and many of the riders and their team personnel have raved about the high level of organisation.

“The riders love our event and they love coming to South Australia.

“The people of South Australia, along with thousands of interstate and overseas visitors, have also embraced the Tour as never before.

“We’ve seen massive crowds lining the track – from the East End of the city to the Barossa Valley and, for the very first time this year, at Mannum on the River Murray.

“We’ve also seen huge numbers of cycling fans taking part in the events associated with the Tour, including a record field of 2700 riders in the Mutual Community Challenge Tour.

“The various stages of the Tour itself have been fantastic and Adelaide has been spoilt with a display of highly competitive, world class cycling.

“I want to thank the teams for their superb efforts over the past week and the many locals who have worked hard to make this event a great success once again.”

2007 best dressed town competition

The first daily winner for the Tour Down Under’s KESAB Best Dressed Town Competition for Stage 1 was One Tree Hill.

One Tree Hill’s entry was described by judges as ‘outstanding’ with strong community involvement, and almost every business in the main street participating in the festivities. The street was lined with colourful balloons, and highlights included a bicycle race for young children, a brass band, craft fair, and a unique sculpture of a bicycle welded together out of metal.

Greenock and Tanunda also performed strongly. Greenock featured a corporate marquee with live entertainment, and a hall of fame of past awards they have achieved in the competition. Other festivities included a sausage sizzle, and balloon and streamers lining the main street of the town. Tanunda’s entry included shop fronts decorated with posters, sausage sizzles, and colourful decorations.

Mannum was the daily winner of the KESAB Best Dressed Town Competition for Stage 2.

A key feature of their entry was a 300 metre long banner in the Tour Down Under colours that was prepared by 60 people, featuring silhouettes of bicycles.
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Mannum’s entry had a great deal of community and business involvement, with the main street of the town bursting with colour.

Hahndorf’s entry was also strong with a live jazz band and a buzz in the main street. Included in Hahndorf’s festivities was a man conducting live welding of bicycle wheels.

Victor Harbor was awarded the daily winner of the KESAB Best Dressed Town Competition for Stage 3.

Their entry featured orange and blue ribbons, with bicycles atop light posts. A large marquee on the reserve created a village environment with local produce and wine on display. Three schools participated in a painting competition with the Tour Down Under themed pictures exhibited in the marquee.

Stirling’s entry set a high standard for the competition, and was narrowly beaten by Victor Harbor by a mere 0.75 of a point. Hundreds of bikes painted in orange and blue lined the charming main street, as well as hundreds of orange flags. A huge bike sculpture created by a local gardener was a highlight.

Willunga was named the daily winner of the KESAB Best Dressed Town Competition for Stage 4.

Willunga celebrated the arrival of the Tour Down Under with a ‘carnivale’ theme, with the streets lined in red, white and blue balloons. Children participated in a mask competition, while roving performers, and two local bands entertained spectators.

Aldinga Bay also joined in the fun with a “carnival by the sea” theme. Marquees lined the esplanade and local businesses and community groups including the Surf Life Saving Club and Scouts were out in force. A fashion parade, volleyball and bocce competitions were also part of the festivities.

McLaren Vale’s entry was also commendable, continuing on the ‘carnivale’ theme with plenty of balloons, streamers and flags to welcome the riders.

A new record is tipped as South Australians rush to register for recreational cycling events being held as part of the 2007 Tour Down Under.

Entries close at 5pm this Friday (12th January) for The Breakaway Series of three events, and Acting Tourism Minister John Hill says there is plenty of interest.

"We've had a huge rush of last minute entries this week and are within striking distance of last year's record of 2726 participants in all recreational events," Minister Hill says.

"There has been interest from around Australia and we even have a women's cycling group from Germany, called Women on Wheels, taking part.

"The Breakaway Series has a race to suit everyone - from the serious cyclists to those who prefer a more leisurely pace over a shorter distance.

"We have a new event this year - a bit like the City to Bay of cycling - which will take cyclists on a 20.5km ride from West Beach to Adelaide.

"Of course, there will be the opportunity once again for cyclists to ride the same stage three route as the professionals - from the Adelaide Hills to Victor Harbor."

New technology has been introduced this year to track participants and there will be five staffed refreshment stations located along the route, including a compulsory stop in Port Elliott.

The 2007 Breakaway Series includes:

Mutual Community Challenge Tour 2007 Presented by The Advertiser
Friday 19th January
128km Stirling to Victor Harbor
84km Ashbourne to Victor Harbor

Mutual Community Fun Tour 2007 Presented by The Advertiser
Sunday 21st January
20.5km West Beach to Adelaide

Powerade Mini Tour for Kids Presented by UniSA
Sunday 21st January (for riders aged 8 to 14 years)
Adelaide City Street Circuit