As early as Saturday, January 17, 2026, the professional women’s peloton will officially open the 2026 season. As tradition dictates, the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under in Australia will inaugurate the Women’s WorldTour calendar. There will be strong Polish representation in the peloton! Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) and Marta Lach (Team SD Worx – Protime) will both line up at the start, ready to fight for their first major results of the new season.
For Dominika Włodarczyk, this will be a return to a place she knows very well. In last year’s edition of the Santos Tour Down Under, the Polish rider finished an excellent 4th overall, fighting hard for her first WorldTour podium already at the beginning of the season and collecting valuable UCI ranking points along the way.
Route and race characteristics
The Santos Tour Down Under Women is a three-stage race held in the Adelaide area – short in duration, but featuring intense, punchy and interval-style stage profiles.
- Stage 1: Willunga – Willunga (137.4 km)
Start and finish in Willunga. A stage with several short climbs, favoring aggressive racing and riders who excel on short, dynamic ascents. - Stage 2: Magill – Paracombe (130.7 km)
Rolling terrain and technical sections lead towards Paracombe. This is likely the only real opportunity for the sprinters. - Stage 3: Norwood – Campbelltown (126.5 km)
The decisive stage, featuring a double ascent of Corkscrew Road. The demanding climb shortly before the finish could determine the overall classification.
Polish riders in action – opportunities and ambitions
The 2026 season gets underway at full speed. The Santos Women’s Tour Down Under is not only the first race on the Women’s WorldTour calendar, but also a perfect opportunity for Polish riders to make their mark immediately at the highest level of competition. We keep our fingers crossed for strong performances by Dominika Włodarczyk and Marta Lach!
