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TOUR DOWN UNDER CYCLES INTO WORLD RECORD BOOKS
It started as the first UCI ProTour event to be held outside of Europe and finished as one of the most successful sporting events ever to be staged in the State’s history.
South Australia’s Tour Down Under set new records over the six days of racing, drawing crowds of more than half a million people to the races for the first time.
In addition, tens of thousands of people attended the many street parties and events associated with the ‘festival of cycling’, and a record 4207 took part in the best ever Škoda Breakaway Series.
Premier Mike Rann says it was the perfect way to welcome the UCI ProTour to South Australia – and to celebrate the Tour’s 10th birthday.
“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) showed its faith in the Tour Down Under and South Australia by giving us UCI ProTour status, and we have not disappointed,” Premier Rann says.
“It makes me immensely proud that our State turned on a race that will go down in history as the biggest and best ever.
“To be the first place outside of Europe to host a leg of the prestigious UCI ProTour series was an honour in itself. To get it a year ahead of schedule in 2009 was incredible.
“The fact that we rose to the challenge, with only three to four months of planning and preparation is an absolute credit to Race Director Mike Turtur and his dedicated team of organisers.
“Our thanks and congratulations go to them because it is their groundwork and attention to detail that has ensured our event exceeded expectations.
“The UCI ProTour is locked in for another three years and, with the ongoing support of South Australians, we hope to make it an even greater spectacle in 2009.”
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says becoming the first stop in world cycling will bring huge benefits to South Australia’s profile in Europe, with vision beamed into millions of homes in countries around the world.
“Cycling is huge in Europe and tens of millions of people, experiencing a European winter, have been watching the sun shining as cyclists pass through our spectacular regions.
“Over time, we hope UCI ProTour will generate a 60% increase in tourists from interstate and overseas and a 40% increase in media publicity and television broadcast.
“The Tour Down Under is a huge money spinner for the State and we expect that to grow as the profile of the race builds overseas.”
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
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