2026 Tour Down Under Stage 1 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 1 of the 2026 Tour Down Under! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
Stage 1 will see riders tackle 120 kilometres through world-famous wine country, starting and finishing on Murray Street in Tanunda. The stage will pass landmarks including the new Barossa Park sporting precinct, ascend Menglers Hill, and wind through vineyards before the leadout trains of the sprinters begin to take shape. Three clockwise loops through Tanunda will offer plenty of vantage points for fans, while the nearby town of Lyndoch will also greet the peloton.
The year's first regional stage heads to the Barossa: storied terrain for the Santos Tour Down Under and a feature since its first edition in 1999. Tanunda will host the start and finish, with the peloton passing through Lyndoch before venturing north for three passes of a scenic loop that includes Angaston and Bethany. Menglers Hill returns to challenge new-season legs, though it's the sprinters who will be out to dominate in the closing kilometres and assert their authority early.
Sprinters have their first chance to flex almost 11 kilometres into this stage, with classification points on offer along Barossa Valley Way in Lyndoch. Look for the new Barossa Park behind them – best known as the venue for two Gather Round matches in 2025. From there, attention turns to Murray Street in Angaston, which will host the day's remaining two Ziptrak® sprints. They're slated for the 68- and 99-kilometre marks respectively.
In a region known for its gentle slopes, there's only one climb that counts. Menglers Hill returns as a feature of Stage 1 and will force the peloton's fastest men out of the saddle. We'll see three ascents of its more modest northern side: a 2.1-kilometre, category three push that offers 79 metres of vertical and an average gradient of 3.9 percent. Look for the first climb 44 kilometres into racing, followed by another pass at the 75-kilometre mark and a final slog with just 13 kilometres left for the day. Tactics on this last descent will be crucial in setting up contenders for the stage win.
The finish on Murray Street in Tanunda is celebrated Santos Tour Down Under territory: the scene of sprint victories from the likes of Sam Welsford and Phil Bauhaus. In this – the town's 15th race appearance – riders will approach from the south, travel along Bethany Road, then veer right onto Barossa Valley Way and storm home.
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