2026 Tour Down Under Stage 2 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 2 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 2 promises 148 kilometres of all-out effort as cyclists race from inner-city Norwood to Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills. Three huge climbs are on the agenda, with a grind up Norton Summit followed by a visit to Mt Lofty and the men’s first dual ascent of notorious Corkscrew Road. Two sweeping loops through communities including Crafers, Piccadilly, Lobethal and Cudlee Creek will keep the world’s best busy – and anything is possible as they make a last push to the line.
Climbers: it’s go time. This third day of racing will be shaped by uphill power and is poised to reveal serious contenders for ochre. All eyes will be on Norwood as the peloton takes off, heading first for Norton Summit and its sweeping city views. From there, this winding route pushes further into the Adelaide Hills – including a quick hello to Mt Lofty. We’ll see two loops through the heart of the region, dual passes up Corkscrew Road and 3722 metres of total ascent for the day. A stage finish in Uraidla looms as one for the books.
First is Norton Summit at Ashton, a 10-kilometre slog offering 436 metres of ascent that will be conquered just 25 minutes into the stage. And while the average gradient of this category two climb is a manageable four per cent, the 12.6 per cent incline of its steepest section is sure to sting.
From there, climbers’ attention will turn to Corkscrew Road at Montacute. Pass one is slated for the 74.5-kilometre mark, followed by a return visit with 135.2 kilometres of the stage complete. Stats for this category one climb tell the story: 2.4 kilometres of effort, with a total elevation gain of 217 metres and an average gradient of 9.7 per cent. Its maximum? A quad-burning 16.2 per cent.
Sprinters have two opportunities to earn classification points, both sandwiched between climbs that demand tenacity. The first comes along Main Street in Lobethal at 49.4 kilometres into the stage, while the second will take place over the Greenhill Road finish line in Uraidla with 87.4 kilometres complete. From there, anticipation is set to build for the peloton’s return about 55 kilometres later.
Uraidla will host its fourth Santos Tour Down Under finish on the same stretch of Greenhill Road where champions Peter Sagan and Javier Romo prevailed in previous years. The excitement here comes from riders’ descent into town, a sharp right-hand turn, and a push uphill to the line. It’s a closing challenge after almost 150 kilometres in the saddle – one requiring every last ounce of strength and technical nous.
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