Tour Down Under 2027, first big name: Jai Hindley will be there

With just 70 days to go until the WorldTour returns to Australia with the Tour Down Under , the 2027 start list already has its first big name: former Giro d’Italia winner Jai Hindley will return to racing on home roads.

It will be ten years since his debut in the race with the UniSA-Australia national team, and it will be his first participation since 2023. Despite his qualities as a general classification man, Hindley has never won his home race. In his four appearances, he finished 16th, 18th, 18th, and 25th overall.

The 30-year-old will lead Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in South Australia, after renewing his contract with the German team until 2028, announced in July. He will be joined by New Zealander Laurence Pithie , former winner of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, who is making his fifth consecutive appearance.

Hindley's words are those of someone eager to get back on track: "I haven't raced the Tour Down Under since 2023, so I can't wait to get back. It's a fantastic way to start the season, racing in the Australian summer on home roads in front of the Aussie fans. The support for the Australian riders is always incredible, and there's a wonderful atmosphere around the race. I'm thrilled to start 2027 with what I'm sure will be a strong team."

The men's race will start on January 19th from Henley Beach. A six-day battle, with the climbs of Mount Lofty , Corkscrew Road , and Willunga Hill deciding who will wear the next ochre jersey.

The defending champion is Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). There has been much speculation about a possible return to Australia for teammate Tadej Pogačar , the world's number one cyclist, after his injury. For now, however, the only confirmed headline starter is Hindley.

If Vine returns to defend the jersey, he'll be one of the big favorites alongside Hindley. The Australian Red Bull rider is coming off an extraordinary 2026 season: third overall at the Giro d'Italia and 15th at the Tour de France, where he trained with runner-up Remco Evenepoel.

Race director Stuart O'Grady also emphasized the importance of his presence: "We're thrilled to welcome Jai back to the Santos Tour Down Under, and I'm sure all the fans will be thrilled to see him in action on the roads of South Australia. He holds an important place in Australian cycling history as a Grand Tour winner, and at 30, he's in the prime of his career, so we'll see the best of him. The route suits his characteristics: his all-round ability is matched by his ability to climb with the best in the peloton."

O'Grady added: “I’m sure Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe will once again field a strong team to open the WorldTour season, and having Jai here alongside New Zealander Laurence Pithie brings real quality to the peloton.”

It will also be a historic edition: the Tour Down Under becomes the first WorldTour race with men's and women's races over the same distance and on the same dates. After the first three men's stages, the women's race will race simultaneously from January 22nd to 24th on three identical routes: from Glenelg to Victor Harbor, from Christies Beach to Willunga Hill, and from Norwood to Stirling.