Current News
[Search Archive]
Tour Ride To Be Bigger Than Ever
3rd December 2008
It’s already at record levels, but the Mutual Community Challenge Tour is about to get even bigger following the decision to remove the limit of 5000 participants.
Premier Mike Rann today announced the measure, which will allow ALL cycling fans interested in being part of the event to take part in the Tour Down Under’s official recreational ride.
"We have nearly reached the cap of 5000 riders – five weeks ahead of the official deadline for entries,” Premier Rann says.
“That is an absolutely amazing achievement and shows that level of interest that Lance Armstrong’s involvement in next year’s Tour has generated.
“Given the significance of the 2009 Tour Down Under, we want everyone who wishes to ride the Mutual Community Challenge Tour to be able to do so.
“I am delighted that Tour Down Under organisers and South Australia Police have agreed to remove the cap, allowing more cyclists to take part.
“The safety of all participants is the top priority for organisers and, allowing more people to officially register for the ride, will allow adequate safety precautions to be taken.
“Attracting Lance Armstrong to South Australia for the Tour Down Under has been a major coup for the State, and we’ve seen a big rise in people wanting to be a part of the event.”
The Mutual Community Challenge Tour will be held on Friday 23 January 2009. Participants will ride the same Stage 4 route as the professionals, including Lance Armstrong.
There are three distances to suit different cycling abilities:
Option 1 155km Burnside Village to Angaston (start at 6.30am)
Option 2 97km Mt Pleasant to Angaston (start at 7.30am)
Option 3 32km Angaston to Angaston (start at 10.00am)
Inspector Tony Crameri of the South Australia Police says: “Motorists are urged to take extra care with the large numbers of cyclists on the roads at this time.
“We ask drivers to allow plenty of room when passing cyclists and to be patient when travelling behind cyclists.”
The Tour Down Under, to be held from 18-25 January 2009, is the first stop on the world cycling calendar. Visit www.tourdownunder.com.au to register before Friday 9 January.
Media contact:
Public Relations Unit,
telephone +61 8 8463 4500
or email
satc.pr.publications@saugov.sa.gov.au
SA Stories Archive
The Word Around Archive
Top Tour Team Back For 2009
1st December 2008
The team with the best overall record in the Tour Down Under, Ag2r La Mondiale, will race at the event in 2009.
Ag2r La Mondiale is the only team to have competed in all Tour Down Under events (1999-2008) and has achieved the most overall wins.
“It is great news that such a quality team will be competing in Adelaide in January,” said Tour Down Under Race Director Mike Turtur.
View More >>
Cadel Evans To Be Honoured At Tour Down Under
1st December
Tickets are selling fast for the 2009 Tour Down Under Legends’ Night Dinner and are expected to sell out soon now that another great cycling legend has been added to the line-up.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced that Australia’s own Cadel Evans would be honoured at the dinner, alongside Lance Armstrong and Shane Kelly OAM.
“Cadel Evans on stage alongside Lance Armstrong and Shane Kelly will be a major drawcard for all cycling fans,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
View More >>
Stars Come Out At SA Tourism Awards
27th of November
Hindmarsh Island’s Narnu Farm has been inducted into the State’s prestigious Tourism Hall of Fame at the 2008 South Australian Tourism Awards.
The rural holiday experience received the accolade of being named South Australia’s best Standard Accommodation for the third year in a row at the Adelaide Convention Centre last night.
Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre was a standout performer at the event, sweeping up three awards in its categories of Major Tourist Attractions, Tourism Wineries and Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services.
View More >>
Team Columbia Juggernaut Led by Andre the Giant to Compete Down Under
21st November 2008
Team Columbia’s Andre Greipel will return to the 2009 Tour Down Under to defend his 2008 title, bringing with him an experienced team.
Tour Down Under Race Director Mike Turtur is thrilled that the reigning champion will hit the streets of Adelaide in January to defend his Tour Down Under title.
“In 2008 Andre Greipel had the best season of his career, all set on a solid foundation of victory at the 2008 Tour Down Under,” said Mike Turtur.
View More >>
Mike Turtur Elected UCI Oceania President
Mike Turtur, Race Director of the Tour Down Under, has been elected UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) President for the Oceania region.
Mike was elected on 16 November at the UCI Oceania Congress in Adelaide. He takes over from outgoing President Ray Godkin, who had held the role since 1986.
Ray Godkin, who has known Mike Turtur for over 25 years and was his team manager when he won the team pursuit gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, today praised the appointment.
View More >>
UNISA To Race In 2009 Tour Down Under.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced that UniSA – Australia’s national cycling team – will compete in the 2009 Tour Down Under.
“We are delighted that the UniSA team, which will include some of the best Australian road cyclists, will again be competing at the Tour Down Under in January,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“The UniSA team attracts a huge local following and has raced in every Tour Down Under since 2001.”
View More >>
Cycling Superstars Line Up for Legends' Night
1st November 2008
South Australians can share dinner with international cycling legend Lance Armstrong and South Australia’s own Shane Kelly at the 2009 Tour Down Under in Adelaide.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced that Lance Armstrong will lead the line up of cycling superstars to take to the stage at the event’s Legends’ Night Dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 24 January 2009.
"The Legends’ Night Dinner is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most famous cyclists," says Dr Lomax-Smith says.
View More >>
Get Close To The Cycling Action
16 October 2008
Cycling fans can secure the best viewing points for the 2009 Tour Down Under with Touring the Tour – the event’s official transport for spectators.
The Touring the Tour coach service takes passengers through the regional stages of the Tour Down Under (Stages 1-5 on 20-24 January 2009), ensuring they are transported in comfort to key locations to see the very best of the action.
Ticket sales have rocketed by 362% since the announcement that Lance Armstrong will make his comeback to professional racing at the Tour Down Under.
View More >>
Armstrong Brings Publicity Boon.
Lance Armstrong’s plan to make his comeback to professional cycling at next year’s Tour Down Under has led to a multi-million-dollar publicity boon for the State.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says initial calculations put the value of media coverage generated by the world coup at more than $15 million – and rising.
"We know that figure will skyrocket when we include the value of all print, television and radio coverage received since the news first broke 16 days ago," Dr Lomax-Smith says.
View More >>
Armstrong Confirmed
9th October 2008
Premier Mike Rann says he’s delighted that the UCI has confirmed that cycling superstar Lance Armstrong is eligible to make his comeback to professional road cycling at the 2009 Tour Down Under in Adelaide.
"We are thrilled that this issue has been resolved and Lance Armstrong will be coming to South Australia as planned.
View More >>
Adelaide Counts Down to the 2008 Credit Union Christmas Pageant
1st October 2008
Three dazzling new floats have been unveiled today as Adelaide counts down to the 2008 Credit Union Christmas Pageant.
With only 38 sleeps to go until the Credit Union Christmas Pageant takes over the streets of Adelaide, Chloe Fox, Member for Bright, unveiled the new floats which will add to the colour and excitement of the iconic South Australian event this year.
View More >>
Adelaide Waves to the World at this Year's Pageant
23rd September 2008
South Australia will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the longest and largest Mexican wave ahead of the 2008 Credit Union Christmas Pageant on Saturday 8 November.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today unveiled the planned record attempt and called for South Australians to join together to become record breakers.
View More >>
Major Tourism Investment in Flinders Ranges
5th September 2008
One of Australia’s most visionary tourism identities is set to take the Flinders Ranges to the next level with the purchase of renowned Wilpena Pound Resort from long-term owners and Flinders Ranges’ icons, the Rasheed family.
Grant Hunt, head of the new company Anthology the Travellers’ Collection, and the driving force behind eco-tourism operator Voyages, recently took ownership of Wilpena Pound Resort, with a view to rejuvenating the property in the next 12 months.
View More >>
Tiger Airways Announces First Adelaide Routes
Tiger Airways has announced the first new routes it will fly from its second Australian base – Adelaide Airport.
Acting Tourism Minister Jay Weatherill says Tiger will fly from its Adelaide base to Melbourne, Perth, the Gold Coast, Hobart and Alice Springs starting from 1 March 2009.
Currently it flies only the Melbourne-Adelaide route – and when its Adelaide base gets going, Tiger will fly this route 39 times each week.
“This is great news for tourism in South Australia, giving interstate visitors more affordable opportunities to travel to South Australia for their holidays – which injects valuable tourism dollars into the local economy,” Minister Weatherill says.
View More >>
Culinary Experts Add Flavor To World Food Exchange
29 July 2008
The program for the inaugural World Food Exchange, which will position South Australia to take advantage of the world’s growing culinary tourism market, has been unveiled today.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith announced that two pioneers of Australia’s culinary tourism industry will share their experience and expertise at the event on 21-25 September 2008.
View More >>
Tasting Australia Goes Vintage
03 July 2008
Tasting Australia, the nation’s premier food, wine and beer festival will now be held in Autumn instead of Spring, allowing visiting media, food and drink professionals and the public at large a chance to experience the best South Australia has to offer at vintage time.
The next Tasting Australia event will be held on 6-13 May 2010.
View More >>
South Australia Tourism Commission to Partner with KWP!
27th June 2008
The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) will partner with local advertising agency kwp! for the next three years in a bid to reach its ambitious target of achieving $6.3 billion in tourist expenditure by 2014.
View More >>
New UCI ProTour Teams to Debut Down Under
3rd Decemeber 2008
Two new UCI ProTour teams – Garmin Slipstream and Team Katusha – will make their ProTour debut at the 2009 Tour Down Under.
Mike Turtur, Tour Down Under RaceDirector, is pleased to see the UCIProTour continuing to expand to include teams from all corners of the globe.
“It is great to see two new teams joining the UCI ProTour. And I am pleasedthat Team Katusha is being spearheaded by Australian sprinter RobbieMcEwen,” said Mike Turtur.
View More >>
|
