The Women's Tour Down Under is an annual professional road bicycle racing for women in Australia. It is held in conjunction with the Tour Down Under. From 2016, it was rated as UCI 2.2, and from 2018 as UCI 2.1. From 2020 it forms part of the Women's UCI ProSeries.
History
Women's racing at the Tour Down Under began in 2011 as a series of exhibition criterium races and eventually formed part of the women's National Road Series, with these races variously operating under guises deriving from the parent event's name. In 2016, organisers developed a new UCI-classified event that carried the 'Women's Tour' name, and was ranked as a new UCI 2.2. stage race with international teams invited to compete. The event considers the 'Women's Tour Down Under' as having started in 2016. Originally called the 'Santos Women's Tour' the first race was won by former Australian Champion Katrin Garfoot. The three subsequent races have been won by Amanda Spratt, and in 2020 Ruth Winder became the first non-Australian and non Mitchelton–Scott rider to win the event. From 2018, the race leaders and overall winner are awarded an Ochre Jersey as has been the tradition in the men's event since 2006.
Women's Tour Down Under Winners
Classification leaders' jerseys
Predecessor women's racing events
From 2011, women's racing commenced at the Tour Down Under, usually as small-scale criterium races at start and finish locations aligned to the men's race. The inaugural event known as the Rendition Homes-Santos Women's Cup was won by Chloe Hosking. In 2012 the criterium series took place in Adelaide City, Prospect and Hyde Park and was won by Judith Arndt. In 2013, the Santos Women's Cup was held in Adelaide City, Prospect and Hyde Park and was won by Kimberley Wells. In 2014, the Santos Women's Cup was held in Adelaide City, Angaston and Prospect and was won by Loes Gunnewijk. In 2015, the 'Santos Women's Tour' was a four-part race as part of Cycling Australia's National Road Series with stages running from Woodside-Murray Bridge, Adelaide city, Tanunda-Campbelltown, Victoria Park.
