Santos Women's Tour Down Under 2026 preview - World Champion Vallieres to make history on debut

The 2026 Santos Women's Tour Down Under has the makings of an exciting start to the 2026 Women's WorldTour. There's set to be action on the opening day in Willunga, though notably, not on Willunga Hill. A hilly second stage follows before a crucial climax that features the difficult Corkscrew Road climb, which will decide the fate of the race winner's ochre jersey.

Last year’s edition had plenty of memorable moments, beginning with Daniek Hengeveld’s surprise victory with a 50km epic effort catching out the sprinters on the first opportunity for victory. 

The following day was the most pivotal of the race in terms of painting the general classification picture with a finish atop the mighty Willunga Hill. It was Noemi Rüegg who stormed to victory solo ahead of Silke Smulders and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad, which would ultimately be the final general classification podium. 

However, beforehand, Chloé Dygert would win the final stage, timing her uphill sprint to perfection in Stirling to round out the race. The 2026 edition has the potential to be more thrilling than twelve months ago. 

In the nine previous editions, there have been six different winners of the general classification. Australian rider Katrin Garfoot won the inaugural edition in 2016 before Amanda Spratt won the next three editions from 2017-2019. Spratt is the record holder for the most general classification victories at the race and is the only rider to have won multiple editions. 

Ruth Edwards became the first non-Australian winner in 2020, before the race was halted for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon the race's return in 2023, it was a home success for Grace Brown, before Sarah Gigante in 2024, and Noemi Rüegg's victory in 2025, being the first European winner.

Here's a look at the three stages that make up the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under Women's route. 

The first UCI Women’s WorldTour stage of the season begins and finishes in the town of Willunga, Australia, which has become synonymous with the Tour Down Under thanks to Willunga Hill.

However, this stage doesn’t feature the iconic Australian climb, but that isn’t to say that this stage won’t bear significant consequences. Firstly, this is the longest opening stage in the race’s history, and secondly, there’s still a climb in Willunga that will take centre stage. 

The riders will complete a loop that takes them around Port Willunga and McLaren Vale three times before tackling the day’s main test, the climb up Willunga’s High Street. 

The climb is 475 metres in length, averaging 4.2% with a maximum gradient of 5.6%, and whilst less difficult than Willunga Hill, it has the capacity to sting the legs, particularly on the final ascent where the finish line awaits at the summit. It could be an explosive battle for the first ochre jersey of the race in the shape of an uphill sprint.

This is an attritional stage for the riders on rolling terrain for the majority in the Adelaide Hills, and starts off with the climbing from the get-go. Beginning in Magill, the riders will begin climbing the slopes of the Norton Summit after just ten kilometres. Another categorised climb follows on Hill Road at Kersbrook around 73km into the stage. 

From here, there’s still plenty of climbing to go, but for the riders, this comes in the form of an ascent they will quickly get used to. Four passes of the Paracombe climb await the riders, which averages a modest 2.2% but with a maximum gradient of 9.5%. 

Just like the opening stage, an uphill finish awaits, which means that the puncheurs and most versatile of fast finishers are likely to shine once again, but those who are hunting the general classification could also be dragged into battle.

This final stage is set up for an epic battle in the fight for the ochre jersey, featuring two ascents of the difficult Corkscrew Road Climb in the small town of Montacue. 

Beginning in Norwood for the first time in the Women’s Tour Down Under, but 19th time in the Tour Down Under overall, the battle for the ochre jersey will be decided following two ascents of the Corkscrew Road inside the final 30km of the stage. 

The climb itself is 2.4km in length, averaging 9.7% but with maximum gradients of 16.2%, which could split the race apart. However, it's not just climbing legs that will be required for victory, but also sharp descending skills because the riders will plunge down a rapid descent from the summit towards Campbelltown, where the winner of the 2026 Santos Women’s Tour Down Under will be decided.

With it being the first WorldTour race of the season, there are plenty of unknowns in terms of the form and motivation of the riders on the start list. All 14 Women’s WorldTour teams are set to be in attendance alongside the Australian national team.

EF Education-Oatly boast the defending champion Noemi Rüegg, and the Swiss rider will be looking to defend her title. Rüegg will be joined by teammate and world champion Magdeleine Vallieres. The Canadian will set a precedent by becoming the first reigning world champion to ride the Santos Women's Tour Down Under. A significant moment for the race. 

With the route favouring puncheurs, there will be an expectation that EF Education-Oatly will be in the hunt for the ochre jersey once more. Speaking on the Domestique Hotseat in December, the world champion admitted that she hasn’t placed any pressure on herself heading into Australia, as she isn’t peaking for the race with her main targets set to come later in the season. 

Three-time record winner Amanda Spratt, who recently announced that she will retire at the end of 2026, will line up alongside Gaia Realini for Lidl-Trek, both of whom thrive when the road ascends. Meanwhile, Tiffany Cromwell and stage winner from last year, Chloé Dygert, feature in the Canyon/SRAM zondacrypto squad alongside former podium finisher in 2024, Neve Bradbury.

UAE Team ADQ have a squad blended with experience and rising talent. Tour de France Femmes stage winner Mavi García begins her twelfth season as a professional at the age of 42. The Spanish veteran is joined by rising star Dominika Włodarczyk, who will be aiming to kick on after a standout 2025.

The 24-year-old Polish rider has established herself as one of the best climbers in the peloton over the last year, most notably finishing 4th at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Stage 3 and the ascent to Corkscrew Road could be a big opportunity for Włodarczyk to exercise her climbing capabilities to the maximum.

The under-23 European champion Paula Blasi has already been front and centre of a UCI WorldTour stage race at just 22 years old and is another key rider for UAE. The Spanish rider won the opening stage of the Tour de Romandie Féminin in August, and fought valiantly to try and defend the race lead before eventually finishing 4th overall. Brodie Chapman of UAE, Josie Talbot and Ruby Roseman-Gannon of Liv AlUla Jayco, and Alexandra Manly of AG Insurance Soudal are among the many talented home riders present. The recently crowned Australian champion Mackenzie Coupland,  also of Liv AlUla Jayco also lines up.

Other riders on the start list include Ally Wollaston of FDJ United - Suez, with the Kiwi one of the riders to beat in the event of any sprints to the line. Barbara Malcotti of Human Powered Health finished 8th at the Giro d'Italia Women before 13th at the Tour de France Femmes in 2025, really strong results that display a high climbing ability that could shine on some of these tough stages. 

Tour de France Femmes youth classification winner in 2025, Ninke Vinke makes her debut with SD Worx-Protime after a strong campaign with Picnic PostNL, which also saw the then 20-year-old finish 9th at the Vuelta a España Femenina. Vinke has history with the Tour Down Under, having finished runner-up in the general classification behind Sarah Gigante in 2023, and the Corkscrew Road climb could see the Dutch rider excel.

Additionally, former Tour de l'Avenir winner Marion Bunel of Visma | Lease a Bike, and junior World and European champion Paula Ostiz, who will begin her first Women's WorldTour race as a fully fledged professional, are two other riders who could make their mark on the race.