The Tour Down Under’s emblematic climb, Willunga Hill, will not feature at this year’s race after it was removed from Saturday’s fifth stage due to an extreme fire danger warning and forecast maximum temperatures of 43°C in the area – sparking renewed calls for the race to ditch its title sponsor, oil and gas giant Santos.
Willunga Hill, an often-decisive staple of the season-opening WorldTour race in South Australia, was set to be tackled by the peloton three times during Saturday’s 176km route, the penultimate stage of the six-day event.
However, with predicted maximum temperatures of 43 degrees and an “extreme” fire danger rating for the Mount Lofty Ranges in place, the Tour Down Under organisers announced on Friday that Willunga Hill would be removed from the race entirely and the stage shortened to 131km.
That decision, made in consultation with local emergency services, South Australia Police, the riders, and the UCI, means that the stage will start in Brighton at 10.10am, an hour earlier than previously planned, and finish in Willunga township, which hosted the conclusion of stage one of last week’s women’s Tour Down Under.
The organisers also called on spectators to “avoid riding up Willunga Hill, be sun-smart, seek shade, and remain hydrated, and most importantly, follow messages from emergency services authorities throughout the day”.
The modifications to Saturday’s stage will almost certainly ensure that it will end in a bunch sprint and have little impact on the general classification, which is currently being led by Jay Vine. The Australian, who won the race in 2023, attacked on the Corkscrew alongside UAE Team Emirates teammate, and defending champion, Jhonatan Narváez, building up an advantage of over a minute on the rest of the field.
Sunday’s final stage of the race, which features a series of laps around Stirling, is expected to go ahead as planned.
“While the removal of the famous Willunga Hill climb is disappointing news for cycling fans – ultimately rider and spectator safety is always the number one priority for our event,” race director Stuart O’Grady said in a statement.
“Following consultation with emergency services authorities, riders and the UCI, we have agreed to proceed with a modified programme for Saturday’s racing.”
> Pro cyclists urge Tour Down Under to drop “embarrassing” oil and gas sponsor
While hot conditions are expected at the Tour Down Under, which takes place at the height of the Australian summer, this year’s race has coincided with the country’s most severe heatwave since 2019-20’s “black summer”.
That year’s searing temperatures led to thousands of bushfires, burning up to 19 million hectares and resulting in scenes of devastation, some of which the Tour Down Under peloton passed through during the 2020 edition.
Ahead of Friday’s stage between Henley Beach and Nairne, won in a sprint by the Ineos Grenadiers’ new Australian signing Sam Welsford, the Tour Down Under organisers urged spectators to “remain hydrated”, and to help reduce the risk of fires by avoiding driving or parking in long, dry grass or on road verges.
“Hot cars in dry grass can cause a fire, which has a high chance of getting out of control in this weekend’s predicted hot and windy weather. If parking is necessary, it should only be done in cleared areas such as paved or gravel roads where the grass is not dry or long,” the race said.
The organisers also reminded fans that the race is non-smoking and that “outdoor barbecues should not be used along the TDU route”.
According to new analysis published this week by the World Weather Attribution, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and human-caused global heating have made the heatwaves affecting Australia in January five times more likely.
Earlier this month, one person died and 300 properties were destroyed in bushfires that tore across south-east Australia.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that the news of Willunga Hill’s climate-related excision has sparked renewed calls for the Tour Down Under to cut its ties with Santos, the race’s long-term title sponsor – and one of Australia’s worst greenhouse gas emitting companies.
Last year, the company received approval for its Barossa gas project, widely regarded as one of the most emissions-intensive gas developments in the country.
Responding to the race’s Instagram post announcing the changes to Saturday’s stage, which included a reference to Santos, Steph wrote: “I love the TDU and I value the generous financial input of sponsors to help make the event possible… but honestly… the irony of tagging Santos in this post. Hope everyone can stay safe in such extreme conditions.”
Meanwhile, on Facebook, Sarah said: “Extreme weather events. Santos. The irony.”
The gas and oil producer’s status as the Tour Down Under’s naming rights sponsor – a position it’s held since 2010 – has long been viewed as one of cycling’s most egregious forms of ‘greenwashing’, making it a frequent target of environmental protests over the years.
In 2023, two women in their 60s were arrested after gluing themselves to a pile of bikes on an Adelaide street before the race started, while a few days later, another group of three partly naked women, again in their 60s and 70s, were also arrested ahead of the opening stage of the women’s race for allegedly exposing themselves.
“We are baring our ageing breasts and our wobbly bums in the hope of shocking,” one protester said. “Polite pleas and submissions have not been enough.”
And in the build-up to this year’s event, a number of high-profile Australian cyclists, including former national champion Brodie Chapman, joined the campaign to ditch Santos from the cycling world.
“It’s certainly time that the Tour Down Under looks for a new sponsor to more align with the values of the modern world, the Australian people, the natural world, and athletes,” the UAE Team ADQ rider said.
Another former national champion, Cyrus Monk, also said it was “embarrassing” that Santos continues to sponsor the country’s biggest bike race.
“I’d love to see another sponsor to be able to step in,” he says. “Obviously, the dream would be similar to the [Belgian] Renewi Tour, where the sponsor is a renewable energy company that is doing something better for the environment.”
5 thoughts on ““Extreme weather. Santos. The irony”: Fire danger warning and soaring temperatures see Tour Down Under stage shortened and Willunga Hill removed – days after riders urged race to ditch “embarrassing” oil and gas title sponsor”
Renewi isn’t a renewable
Renewi isn’t a renewable company. That said, they use solar panels and wind mills across their operations.
As per the info posted on their website :
By giving used materials new life, we are contributing to a greener world for future generations
As a leading waste-to-product company in Europe’s most advanced circular economies, we contribute to a more sustainable society for all our stakeholders: customers, suppliers, local communities, employees, regulators, governments and lenders.
The race start time has
The race start time has changed from 11.10am to 10.10am. Really? …why not start at 6.10am to actually avoid the heat and reduce fire danger? …Afterall that’s when the majority of us do our training anyway!
43+ degrees and high fire danger is the new normal due to the climate emergency, and not just in Australia. It’s very likely the Vuelta Espana will be affected in the same way at the other end of the season.
Unless we all get serious about zero emissions, World Tour Cycling will be held at night in 2050.
GravelIsNothingNew wrote:
The fire danger’s going to be the same all day, the forecast tomorrow is 33 degrees at 10AM rising to 42 degrees at 4PM. Without the hill 131km should be done in just over three hours so 39 degrees at 1PM, so it saves the riders the very worst. Presumably moving it any earlier would involve massive complications with TV coverage, police and ambulance assistance, earlier road closures etc.
The 43⁰+ day has nothing to
The 43⁰+ day has nothing to do with “climate change” or “global warming”this is just the normal temperature in some parts of Australia during summer.
These temperatures ain’t even record breaking temperatures for us.
Justin81 wrote:
So if it’s not a record-breaking temperature then it’s nothing to worry about? You want to be careful, with your head stuck so deep in the sand you’re in severe danger of getting a sunburned arse. Severe heatwaves are hitting Australia more and more frequently, they are getting hotter and they are lasting longer. The longer and more severe the heatwaves, the less time the land has to recover, the dryer it gets, the more catastrophic the fires become. Since the middle of the 20th century rainfall in South Australia has decreased by 20% and predictions are that it could fall between 15-25% more by 2050. “Just normal”, eh? Suggest you read what an actual scientist thinks about it: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/09/as-a-climate-scientist-i-know-heatwaves-in-australia-will-only-get-worse-we-need-to-start-preparing-now