TOUR DOWN UNDER

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about the Tour Down Under.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: The Tour Down Under is a world-class event that attracts many people to beautiful parts of South Australia. Can the minister give the chamber some details of the upcoming 2012 event?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his most important question about this very important event. The 14^th Santos Tour Down Under will be held between 15 January and 22 January 2012, and I am advised that the race will start for the first time in Prospect and also feature another stage finish at Clare. Stage 3 of the race will be held entirely in the Adelaide Hills, with riders racing from Lobethal to Stirling.

As far as race routes go, they are selected to meet the cycling requirements for the UCI World Tour race. Obviously, organisers want to ensure that a range of different regions and towns is profiled each year, and this year the event will travel through a wide range of very exciting areas.

We are targeting key markets of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and WA to help maintain and grow interstate visitation. As part of making the tour bigger and better every year, I am pleased to advise that the Adelaide City Council Tour Village will be expanded to incorporate the northern side of Victoria Square in the bike expo area.

It is very exciting to advise members that the five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx will be guest of honour at the 2012 race. Cycling fans will have a chance to meet Eddy by just registering to participate in the Bupa Challenge Tour, which will be held on Friday 20 January, covering 138 kilometres from Norwood to Tanunda, with three shorter distances being available. This is a fantastic event and allows recreational cyclists to ride the same course as the professional riders, and I urge enthusiasts to participate.

Today, the team line-up for Team Katusha was announced, and I am delighted to inform members that the Spanish rider Oscar Freire will be the lead rider for Katusha. Freire is a three-time world race champion, winning in 1999, 2001 and 2004. He is the winner of four stages of the Tour de France, the winner of the Tour de France's green jersey, and a winner of seven stages of the Tour of Spain. His debut was at the 2009 Santos Tour Down Under. I am advised that more rider and team announcements will be issued over the coming weeks. As I said, it is a great event and I invite members to get online and stay in touch with the race.