10 January 2018
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is building on its partnership with the Santos Tour Down Under in 2018 by becoming the naming rights partner for the national women’s team
It’s the first time UniSA has officially supported the women’s team, strengthening a 18-year relationship between the southern hemisphere’s biggest cycling race, the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU), and UniSA. UniSA will also continue to be the naming rights partner of the national men’s team.
The major event is a festival of cycling, showcasing the attractions of South Australia to the world through global television coverage.
UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd says the University is a proud partner of the Tour.
“As one of Australia’s leading sporting and tourism events, the Tour is extremely important in presenting all that is wonderful about South Australia to the world,” he says.
“We are delighted to be supporting with both the women’s and men’s teams.
“As Australia’s university of enterprise, we are in the business of supporting people to reach their career goals and with the Tour we feel we are doing that for some of Australia’s most talented cyclists.”
The UniSA-Australia teams host riders who are not listed with pro teams or are contracted to outfits that aren't contesting the race. The Santos Women's Tour Down Under will begin tomorrow concluding on Sunday 14 January at the People's Choice Classic, as the men’s teams kick off their Tour.
In 2018, the women’s race has been upgraded to a UCI 2.1 event, one level below UCI WorldTour status.
Inaugural Women’s TDU general classification winner Katrin Garfoot (formerly with ORICA-AIS) will lead the team. Garfoot says she is happy to have a spot in such a fantastic team.
“These girls deserve a ride and I am proud to be a part of the team,” she says.
“My goal is to have a great race plan and to have a great race with the team.”
Team UniSA-Australia womens start list
- Katrin Garfoot (Australia)
- Shara Gillow (Australia)
- Rachel Neylan (Australia)
- Tiffany Cromwell (Australia)
- Lauren Kitchen (Australia)
- Lauretta Hanson (Australia)
Announced today, the UniSA-Australia men’s team includes some familiar faces – Tim Roe, Steele von Hoff, and Zak Dempster and some promising newcomers.
Winning the Team points in 2017, once again, there are high hopes for the Australian development team which has traditionally been a proving ground for Australian cycling talent.
Team UniSA-Australia mens start list
- Scott Bowden (Australia)
- Alex Porter (Australia)
- Steele von Hoff (Australia)
- Timothy Roe (Australia)
- Sam Welsford (Australia)
- Zak Dempster (Australia)
- Nathan Earle (Australia)
UniSA has sponsored the Santos Tour Down Under since 2001.
Media contact: Georgia Minarelli mobile: +61 413 314 726 email: Georgia.Minarelli@unisa.edu.au
