14.01.2026 World-Tour, News, Race news

RACING DOWN UNDER: CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto SUMMER LINE-UP

CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto is set to once again open its racing season in the land down under, bringing a capable and versatile line-up to take on the always-exciting Australian summer calendar.

Wilma Aintila, Justyna Czapla, Chloé Dygert and Soraya Paladin have ventured out of winter to join Neve Bradbury and Tiffany Cromwell on home roads – the Australian duo making the journey east following the Australian Road National Championships in Perth.

The first stop is the summer cycling hub of Adelaide, South Australia, for the WorldTour-classified Santos Tour Down Under from January 17-19, followed two days later by the Women’s One-day Race (UCI 1.Pro) contested over 95 kilometres on a short circuit. From there, the team heads to Geelong, Victoria, for the arduous Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) and its fiercely-fought prelude, the Surf Coast Classic.

The Geelong courses are known quantities, remaining virtually unchanged from 2025, while the offerings in Adelaide continue to evolve from year to year – this season being no exception.

Billed as the longest-ever women’s Tour Down Under at 395km, a significant increase from 323km in 2025, the three days are packed with both challenge and opportunity. Stage one is the longest in race history at 137km, beginning in Willunga, a town made famous in cycling circles by its namesake climb. This year, only the lowest slopes through the settlement are utilised for a long, dragging finishing straight. The stage is suited to resilient sprinters who can withstand modest climbs and still deliver at the line.

Stage two again offers an honest early-season test, covering 131km with nearly 2500m of elevation on relentlessly rolling roads, concluding on a leg-sapping circuit. General classification ambitions will largely hinge on stage three’s infamous Corkscrew ascent, a brutal 2.4km climb (avg. 9.1%) positioned in the final quarter of the 127km day. This is where the climbers will finally be unleashed – not once, but twice – before a fast 5km descent from the summit to the Tour’s conclusion.

Adding an interesting element to this year’s edition are changes to the WorldTour race regulations, meaning that strong WorldTeam numbers are set to make the racing even more competitive.

After 2025 brought an imperious stage victory at Tour Down Under, a runner-up finish at the Surf Coast Classic, and two frustrating fourth places at the one-day races in Adelaide and Geelong, Chloé returns to Australia with fond memories and renewed ambitions.

“I’m just really happy, healthy and so blessed to be down here again. Every year, I just want to be better and better, so I’m hoping to gain better results this year with the team.

I still have goals and ambitions for the rest of the season, so Australia is a stepping stone to achieving the rest of the goals I have set.”

The ever-reliable Soraya returns to Adelaide for the third time. After finishing second on a stage in 2024, she remains realistic about her prospects in 2026:

“After a good off season where I recharged the battery and the mind, everything since then has luckily gone quite well. We decided to not rush the preparation so I’m feeling like I’m supposed to be in January – some days you feel Wonder Woman, other days you just suffer!”

“I have good memories here and I come with no expectations – I want to build my shape having fun and enjoying the races. Then, if some results come, it’s a plus.”

Soraya is also excited for the non-racing highlights:

“⁠I’m looking forward to eat a lot of vegemite, to spot many koalas, to taste good Australian wine and to enjoy riding here with the team. I’m not a fan of long travel so for me this is the only thing that I find a bit challenging, and maybe the jet lag, but here they do a good flat white everywhere so it’s easy to stay awake.”

Climbing hopes across the programme, with keen eyes on Adelaide’s infamous Corkscrew and Geelong’s brutal Challambra Crescent, will largely rest with Melburnian Neve. After launching her standout 2024 season with third place overall at Tour Down Under, she was unable to convert her pre-race favourite status in 2025, finishing eighth. She arrives this year with a relaxed but encouraged mindset, having already secured third place in the Women’s Road Race at the Australian Championships – her best-ever elite nationals result.

“I’m excited to be back racing with the team after getting a little confidence boost from nationals. The real test of my form will come at Tour Down Under, but I’m ready to give it my all and make it an exciting race with my teammates. I really want to be a part of the bike race. A result is a bonus, but I race at my best when I’m happy and am not placing too much weight on the actual number beside my name at the end of each day.”

HOW TO FOLLOW

Stage 2 – TDU | Sun, Jan 18 | 130.7km | 2438m elevation | start: 11:10 – fastest finish: 14:38 ACDT (5:08 CET).

Stage 3 – TDU | Mon, Jan 19 | 126.5km | 1971m elevation | start: 11:10 – fastest finish: 14:53 ACDT (5:23 CET).

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race | Sat, Jan 31 | 1.WWT | 141.2km | 1546m | start: 12:40 – fastest finish: 16:30 AEDT (6:30 CET).

Tour Down Under and its one-day race will be shown on 7Plus, Eurosport, FloBikes and other regional broadcasters, with daily coverage available from 11:00 ACDT (1:30 CET or 16:30 PST). Surf Coast Classic starts at 11:00 AEDT but will only have highlights to view. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race will be broadcast live from 12:00 to 17:00 AEDT on the 7 Network in Australia, as well as Eurosport, Discovery+ and Flobikes internationally.

Follow along on social media using #TourDownUnder, #SurfCoastClassic and #CadelRoadRace, and via CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto channels for team updates.

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