Tour Down Under: Organisers want race to remain in January as UCI reconsiders road ahead
The Tour Down Under's place in the international cycling calendar remains uncertain beyond next year, with organisers and fans hoping the sport's governing body does not push it back.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) is considering a proposal to shift the start of the World Tour to February from 2017, in order to reduce the gap between races.
The Tour Down Under has traditionally been staged in late January to coincide with warm weather and school holidays, and usually ends around Australia Day.
The race's profile has continued to grow, with the South Australian Government estimating total attendance along the routes over the past week reached 770,000.
Race director Mike Turtur said the current arrangements worked perfectly and he would like to keep them that way.
"It allows families and people to come to South Australia to experience the race," he said.
"During the summer period, the weather's good here but the most important factor, and the reason we wanted the race in January, was because of the holiday period.
"[It] works really well for us from a business point of view and a tourism point of view, so the UCI will take all that into consideration when they make decisions leading into the future."
Dutch rider Koen de Kort backed Mr Turtur's stance.
"All my friends can come over now because it's in school holidays and if it [were] in a month or so that would be a lot more difficult," he said.
Giant-Alpecin director Addy Engles said there was ample time between the end of the European season and the Tour Down Under.
''I'm happy with the way it is now. I mean, it's good the break there is between the end of the season and the start here," he said.
Race organisers looking to scale new heights
Mr Turtur said the race, which was won this year by local Rohan Dennis, gave opportunities to both sprinters and all-round riders.
He said the inclusion of climbs at Paracombe and up Corkscrew Hill had worked well.
"But we don't want them to be in the race every year because I think it gets too much repetition," he said.
"We're also on the look out for another possibility for 2016."
The current race licence held by the SA Government expires after next year's event, a deadline that is bound to reawaken speculation it could be poached by an interstate city.
"As long as those numbers are very strong into the future, the race will be here to stay," Mr Turtur said.
