Get ready for an explosive start to the 2026 Women's Tour Down Under! This top-tier racing event, spanning three action-packed days from January 17th to 19th, promises an exciting opening to the cycling season in and around Adelaide, Australia. The absence of the iconic Willunga Hill has opened up the race like never before, creating a level playing field for both puncheurs and climbers to battle it out for the ochre jersey.
The route, at a whopping 394km, is the longest yet, and the racing kicks off with a bang in Willunga. Instead of the traditional longer climb, stage 1 will feature three ascents of the shorter 475-metre lower Willunga climb, right in the heart of town. This twist in the route is tailor-made for the punchy sprinters, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
But here's where it gets interesting: only two previous winners will be on the starting line. Defending champion Noemi Rüegg of EF Education-Oatly and three-time winner Amanda Spratt of Lidl-Trek, who claimed her titles in 2017, 2018, and 2019, will be the ones to watch. Spratt, in her final year of racing, will be aiming to go out on a high note on home soil.
New World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres and Noemi Rüegg will lead the EF Education-Oatly team in their quest for back-to-back victories. Vallieres, with her rainbow jersey, will be a force to be reckoned with, and her history-making breakaway victory at the UCI Road World Championships proves her strength and tenacity. This three-day Tour Down Under could be the stage where she secures the overall title across the three unique and challenging courses.
The team also has Rüegg, last year's overall champion, who won the decisive Willunga Hill stage. Despite the absence of the main climb this year, Rüegg's all-round abilities make her a strong contender for stage wins and decisive breakaways.
Neve Bradbury of Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto will be leading a formidable team, aiming to improve on her eighth-place finish overall last year and her third-place podium finish the year before. With teammates like Tiffany Cromwell, Soraya Paladin, and Chloé Dygert, Bradbury has a powerful support system to help her take stage wins and set her up for a strong overall performance on the final day of racing.
Bradbury, a climber at heart, is in her sixth season with the team and has proven her mettle with podium finishes at the Giro d'Italia, Tour de Suisse, and UAE Tour. Starting her season in Australia will undoubtedly fuel her motivation to win her home top-tier race.
Dominika Włodarczyk of UAE Team ADQ, who finished fourth overall last year and fifth overall the year before, will be leading her team in an attempt to improve her performance and secure a spot on the podium. Włodarczyk, in her third year of top-tier racing, made a splash when she finished fourth overall at the Tour de France Femmes in 2025.
With Elisa Longo Borghini, the double Giro d'Italia winner, focused on a different early-season schedule, Włodarczyk has earned her place as the team's leader in some of the biggest races. She will have the support of potential winner Brodie Chapman and teammates Mavi García, Erica Magnaldi, and Paula Blasi.
Marion Bunel of Visma-Lease a Bike is a pure climber who will likely focus on the stage 3 finale to make her winning move. At just 21, the French rider made her WorldTour debut with Visma-Lease a Bike in 2025. She spent two seasons with St Michel-Mavic-Auber93, delivering strong GC performances at the Tour de l'Ardèche, the Volta a Catalunya, and the UAE Tour.
The team gave Bunel leadership roles at smaller races, and she delivered with a fourth-place finish at l'Ardèche, second at l'Avenir, and third at Catalunya. Now in her second season at the highest level, Bunel's strength in the mountains will be a key asset for her team.
Mackenzie Coupland of Liv AlUla Jayco is a first-year professional who stunned everyone by winning the elite and under-23 women's road race title at the Australian National Championships over the weekend. Coupland went solo in the final 10km of the race, securing the green and gold jersey just days into her tenure with the team. Beating teammates Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Neve Bradbury, who finished second and third, was an added surprise.
This week, Coupland will be lining up at one of the biggest races on the Women's WorldTour, racing on home soil while wearing the brand-new national champion's jersey. In many ways, she's already a winner before the race even begins.
Amanda Spratt of Lidl-Trek is entering her final year in the professional peloton before retiring. Spratt, a three-time winner of the Tour Down Under from 2017 to 2019, will be starting her victory lap at a race she knows inside out. With her wealth of experience as a road captain and a major contender at the Ardennes Classics, Grand Tours, and Emakumeen Bira, Spratt will be a force to reckon with.
While she has stated her intention to support the younger riders on Lidl-Trek in her last year, Spratt has also expressed her desire to race hard and win. What better way to end her career than by winning a stage in her final Tour Down Under in front of her home crowds?
On the final day of racing, Spratt will likely support her teammate Gaia Realini as the team hunts for the overall classification.
Mireia Benito of AG Insurance-Soudal is a talented rider across punchy one-day races, having finished fourth at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar, Giro del Veneto, and Navarra Women's Elite Classics. Her racing style could be crucial during the three demanding stages at the Tour Down Under, and consistent performances could see her land a top spot in the overall classification.
Olivia Baril of Movistar is another strong climber and opportunist who will be leading her squad at the three-day race. With a strong general classification performance at the Tour de Scandinavia and Itzulia Women, as well as in punchy one-day races like Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar, Baril is well-suited to this year's parcours. She will have support from Floortje Mackaij and Claire Steels, while junior World and European Champion Paula Ostiz could be a real wildcard in her first full year on the WorldTour.
The 2026 Women's Tour Down Under is shaping up to be an epic battle, and with the absence of Willunga Hill, the race is wide open for riders of varying strengths and skills. Who will emerge victorious? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this race will be a thrilling spectacle for cycling enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
