Wollaston and Louw to kick off their season Down Under

In just a few days, Ally Wollaston and Anya Louw will be at the start of the first UCI Women's World Tour race of the year. 

Between 15-17 January, AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step’s Ally Wollaston and Anya Louw will take part in the sixth edition of the Tour Down Under, which returns on the calendar after a two-year hiatus. Anya will pin on a number for the Australian National Team, while Ally will be part of New Zealand’s squad for the three-day event in South Australia. 

One day before the start of the race, our riders will be in action on the streets of Adelaide, host of a fast and usually spectacular criterium held over a 1.35km course. Scheduled on Sunday, the opening stage of the Tour Down Under should have the sprinters in the spotlight, with the GC riders getting their first opportunity to shine twenty-four hours later, when the peloton will face the 6.1km Mount Lofty climb. The gaps between the contenders are expected to widen on the final stage, which will feature the short but brutal Corkscrew Road ascent and its double-digit gradients in the final ten kilometers. A fast descent to the line from the top of the climb will spice things up and deliver plenty of excitement on the roads to Campbelltown. 

"I raced the Tour Down Under before, in 2019, and at that time it was my first international road race ever. This year’s edition is really great, with an exciting mix of terrain over the four days, if we include also the criterium. I prepared the season here in New Zealand, where I had a summer with an extensive training schedule, which mostly included track cycling. With the Nations Cup coming up, I’ve put in a lot of work to make sure I’m in good shape for this first road race of the season. The criterium is much to my liking, but I hope to be in the thick of the action also on the opening stage", an excited Ally said. 

“This is the second time that I will start the Tour Down Under, after 2019, when I was part of the Australian National Team, just like now. It’s a tough race, which shouldn’t be underestimated. As we’re just kicking off the season, it’s difficult to say where I stand at the moment, but I will try to give my best. The climbs are hard, making it an ideal route for the puncheurs. There are some strong riders at the start, so to get a good result I will have to race smart and be attentive at all times”, a confident Anya added.”