Get on your bike in Australia

Cycling enthusiasts looking for an appropriate holiday could consider booking flights to Australia now in preparation for one of the world’s best cycling events.

Cycling enthusiasts looking for an appropriate holiday could consider booking flights to Australia now in preparation for one of the world’s best cycling events.

Tour Down Under will take place in January 2009 and is the only ProTour cycling race outside Europe.

Some 18 teams are expected to take part and stars such as Olympic gold medallist and Australian legend Brett Aitken will be present.

Spectators will be able to witness the race from excellent vantage points and may even get the chance to meet their idols, reports the South Australia Tourism Commission.

In addition, a new feature called Skoda King of the Mountain will be added for 2009 in order to test the riders to the limit and to add to the excitement for the crowds.

The cycling route will take riders through the heart of Adelaide, as well as the city surrounds.

For the purpose of the race, a coloured jersey is associated with each prize. The current holder of the prize is required to wear the jersey when racing.

The Ochre leaders’ jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest cumulative time at the end of each stage and to the overall winner at the end of the race.

Ochre is a colour strongly associated with Australia, and the Tour Down Under is unique in having it as the colour of the prestigious leaders’ jersey from 2006.