Cycling in Adelaide: the Tour Down Under, the Super-Drome and Where to Ride

Adelaide has a well-earned reputation as Australia's cycling capital, and with good reason. The city hosts the Santos Tour Down Under each January, a UCI WorldTour road race that draws the world's best professional teams to South Australian roads and turns the streets of Adelaide and the surrounding hills into a festival of cycling for an entire week. The race is free to watch from the roadside, and the criterium stages that finish in the city centre are a spectacular way to experience elite professional cycling up close.

For track cycling, the Adelaide Super-Drome at Gepps Cross is one of the premier velodromes in Australia. The facility is used by Cycling SA for competition, training and development programs, and it is open to recreational riders and clubs on a session basis. Track cycling sessions for beginners are available for those who want to try the banked track for the first time, and the Super-Drome is also used for state-level and national qualifying events throughout the year. It is a world-class facility that is genuinely accessible to everyday riders.

Road riding in and around Adelaide is excellent. The Adelaide Hills offer challenging climbs on the same roads used by Tour Down Under professionals, while the linear parks and dedicated cycling paths along the River Torrens and through the city provide safe, scenic routes for commuters and leisure riders. The Veloway 1 bikeway and various other dedicated cycling infrastructure around metropolitan Adelaide make it possible to travel substantial distances without touching a main road.

Cycling clubs are active throughout the city, catering to road cyclists, mountain bikers and track riders. Cycling SA is the state governing body and the best starting point for finding a local club, entering events or understanding the development pathways for younger riders. Most road clubs run regular bunch rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with groups organised by pace so that newer riders are not left behind. Social and touring clubs are also available for those who prefer a less competitive outing.

For junior cyclists, the development programs run by Cycling SA and affiliated clubs provide structured pathways from beginner through to representative level. Come-and-try track sessions at the Super-Drome are a popular holiday activity for school-aged children. Whether you are a seasoned road racer, a weekend warrior or a commuter looking for a safer route to work, Adelaide's cycling scene has something meaningful to offer.

Sources: Santos Tour Down Under Cycling SA