CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious will open its 2026 World Tour season at the Santos Tour Down Under, returning to Australia for the first race of the year.
Held in and around Adelaide, the Tour Down Under features a mix of sprint stages, rolling terrain, and selective climbs.
First staged in 1999, the race has grown into the largest cycling event in the Southern Hemisphere and traditionally opens the World Tour calendar each January in South Australia.
Valuable early-season UCI points are on offer, with the overall leader wearing the distinctive ochre leader’s jersey.
The 2026 men’s edition will cover 758.9 kilometres, including a short opening time trial (prologue), several selective stages across the week, and a new final stage finishing in Stirling, with the general classification expected to take shape on the more demanding terrain.
The Tour Down Under will also mark Bahrain Victorious’ first World Tour appearance under its new technical partnership with Bianchi, following the agreement between the team and the Italian bicycle manufacturer for the 2026 season.
Bahrain Victorious sports director Aart Vierhouten said: “Coming from Europe, the heat is always a factor in Australia, but the riders have completed dedicated heat-adaptation training and we will use the days before the race for final preparation.
“The Tour Down Under is more demanding this year, with a short prologue and a tougher final stage that shifts the focus more toward the general classification rather than a pure sprint finish. We expect a more challenging race overall and see it as a good test for the team at the start of the season.”
Bahrain Victorious leader Santiago Buitrago commented: “I’m looking forward to starting my 2026 season in Australia. The Tour Down Under is a race I know well and enjoy, and it offers a demanding course to begin the year.
“We’re coming with a motivated group, and the aim is to approach the race in a good way and set a positive tone for the season.”
The team will be supported by a well-balanced line-up around Buitrago, with Edoardo Zambanini providing additional options while contributing in support, Max van der Meulen contributing on the more selective terrain, Zak Erzen providing a sprint option for opportunities that may arise after the prologue, Fran Miholjevic contributing across the flatter and transitional stages, Robert Stannard adding experience and local knowledge, and Oliver Stockwell contributing in a support and positioning role.
Buitrago already has a positive connection with the Tour Down Under, having finished as the second-best young rider in his World Tour debut at the race in 2020. Since then, he has continued to develop steadily as a stage-race rider, gaining experience and confidence at the highest level.
His ability to perform on selective terrain has brought him important results in recent seasons and makes the Australian opener a natural place to begin the new year.
After the Tour Down Under, Bahrain Victorious will continue its Australian campaign in Victoria, racing the Surf Coast Classic on January 29 and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on February 1, before returning to Europe and the Middle East for the next phase of the season.
The Tour Down Under takes place from Tuesday next week until January 26, officially marking the start of Bahrain Victorious’ 2026 World Tour campaign.
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