Tour Down Under awarded Protour status

Australia’s premier cycling race, the Tour Down Under which takes place in Adelaide, South Australia, has been elevated onto the world stage after being awarded ProTour status this week. The announcement in Germany marks the first time a cycling event outside Europe has been awarded ProTour status. In cycling terms this is the highest status a race can achieve.

This news will mean more of the world's top teams and riders, many of them contenders in other ProTour events like the Tour de France, will now take part in Tour Down Under in January 2008, which will also be the event’s 10th anniversary.

From 20th – 27th January 2008, 18 world-class teams will ride in the Tour Down Under, resulting in an expected 60 per cent increase in overseas and interstate tourists attending the event. The penultimate day of the race will also fall on Australia Day, the 26th of January.

Commenting on this news, Neil Saunders, the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Marketing Manager UK, Ireland, Benelux & Nordic said, “We in the South Australian tourism industry are overjoyed at this sought after news since the touring nature of Tour Down Under showcases many of our state's premier holiday locations, as well as our cosmopolitan city of Adelaide. Pro Tour status will give us access to a larger audience worldwide - that is to say seven days of continuous coverage for the key attractions of our beautiful state.”

"Next year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Tour Down Under which makes this announcement a wonderful birthday present - the first destination outside of Europe to host a ProTour event and only the ninth country to have ProTour status.”

The race has also received the news that vehicle manufacturer Skoda - the official motor vehicle of the Tour de France - is now expected to parade 50 vehicles during the tour following a recent sponsorship deal.

For further information about South Australia, log on to Southaustralia.com.