The Santos Tour Down Under has today announced Formula One superstar Valtteri Bottas and Adelaide professional cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell, partners in the global GRVL cycling series, will bring a new gravel event to Adelaide this January.
The event - co-founded and co-owned by ten-time F1 Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, two-time Giro D'Italia Donne stage winner Tiffany Cromwell and former professional American cyclist Amy Charity, CEO of the premier SBT GRVL race - is one of a series of races that have been held in the United States and Finland.
Its new event, named RADL GRVL, will run from Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 January during the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under and will take place on a mix of sealed and gravel roads across various regions around Adelaide.
Day one begins with a shake-out ride leaving from the Tour Village in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga on the Thursday. Friday will be a competitive race in McLaren Vale and Saturday 20 January will see a recovery ride finishing with a watch party on Willunga Hill for the Santos Tour Down Under THINK! Road Safety Men's Stage 5.
Adelaide was chosen as the destination to host the third international GRVL race, as it is co-founder Tiffany Cromwell's hometown. RADL GRVL will follow the success of the founding race, SBT GRVL, which premiered in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2019, followed by FNLD GRVL in 2023 which was held in Lahti, Finland, Valtteri Botas' native home.
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the GRVL event during the Santos Tour Down Under enhanced the overall event offering for cycling fans.
"South Australia is the destination of choice for cycling enthusiasts in Australia, and we will continue to evolve the offerings we are giving our community," Minister Bettison said.
Valtteri Bottas said bringing the event to Adelaide and aligning with the Santos Tour Down Under was an obvious choice.
"I've enjoyed some very memorable gravel rides around Adelaide and McLaren Vale over the last few years, so when the opportunity arose to bring an event to the area I was fully committed," Mr Bottas said.
"Last June I had the chance to introduce the gravel cycling community to the riding around my hometown of Lahti, Finland at FNLD GRVL, and this year I'm excited that Tiffany gets to do the same around her backyard of South Australia."
Tiffany Cromwell said she was excited to bring GRVL to South Australia.
"I've spent years racing professionally, and the unpaved roads around my hometown of Adelaide are the reason I fell in love with gravel cycling. I'm looking forward to bringing RADL GRVL to McLaren Vale at Santos Tour Down Under this January and showing riders from around Australia and beyond what makes the riding, scenery, and hospitality in South Australia so special," Ms Cromwell said.
Amy Charity said Adelaide has always been on the team's radar as one of the premier cycling destinations in the world.
"When Tiffany joined the GRVL team as a co-owner she explained all the reasons why South Australia should be on our short list for gravel event destinations and I was immediately sold," Ms Charity said.
The 2024 event will be a teaser and have limited places for participants, with GRVL looking to increase the event's capacity in future years.
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
The Santos Tour Down Under is taking place in Adelaide and regional South Australia from 12-21 January 2024. It will feature nine days of elite racing for men and women.
Please visit tourdownunder.com.au and radlgrvl.com
