The Santos Tour Down Under 2026 brings the world's best riders to South Australia from January 20 to 25. Whether you're at home or abroad, here's how to watch live – with all official TV channels, legitimate free streams, and information on keeping access to your home subscription securely through a VPN while travelling.
Santos Tour Down Under 2026 Race Times
Australia/Adelaide local time
Stage | Race Start | Estimated Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Prologue | ||
| Stage 1 | ||
| Stage 2 | ||
| Stage 3 | ||
| Stage 4 | ||
| Stage 5 |
Race Favourites
The tougher 2026 route has attracted a field weighted towards climbing credentials. Defending champion Jhonatan Narváez returns with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, bringing punchy acceleration suited to the Stirling finale, while teammate Adam Yates provides Grand Tour pedigree for the mountainous stages. Ben O'Connor leads Team Jayco AlUla's home challenge, targeting his first overall victory. The triple Willunga ascent and eight Stirling circuits should produce larger time gaps than recent editions, favouring sustained climbers over opportunistic puncheurs.
Read our full Tour Down Under men's preview for a deep dive into the favourites.
How to watch Santos Tour Down Under
Broadcasting for the 2026 edition is split across free-to-air networks in Australia and subscription services globally. All official platform details are listed below.
Live Streaming Coverage by Region
| Region | Broadcaster | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 7plus / Seven Network | Free | Official host broadcaster with full live coverage. |
United Kingdom | Discovery+ / TNT Sports | £30.99/mo | Every stage live with expert English commentary. |
United States | Peacock / NBC | Varies | Primary US destination for live WorldTour racing. |
Canada | FloBikes | $29.99/mo | Dedicated cycling stream for Canadian viewers. |
France | L'Equipe | Free | Free-to-air coverage for viewers in France. |
Belgium | RTBF / Tipik | Free | Live coverage on French-language Belgian TV. |
Netherlands | Eurosport / HBO Max | Varies | Complete pan-European coverage of all stages. |
Italy | Eurosport / Discovery+ | Varies | Comprehensive Italian coverage via Eurosport. |
New Zealand | Sky Sport | Varies | Live coverage for New Zealand residents. |
Legal Free Streams
Velora tip: Many countries offer free-to-air official coverage. Certain national broadcasters show the race live for free — entirely legally:
- Australia: 7plus (Comprehensive live coverage of every stage)
- France: L’Equipe (Selected live coverage and highlights)
- Belgium: RTBF/Sporza (Check local listings for specific stage windows)
You can safely access your usual services abroad via a trusted VPN — without breaking any rules. If you're abroad, you can connect via VPN to your home country to access these official, legal feeds — just as if you were at home.
Using a VPN Legally While Travelling
Broadcasters often limit streams to home viewers. If you're travelling, a VPN lets you securely connect to your home network — so you can keep watching your existing paid or free account from abroad.
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Our editorial team uses NordVPN by choice, we all purchased it independently to watch cycling races wherever we are.
- 8,400+ VPN servers covering 167+ locations
- One of the fastest VPNs on the market
- Protection from surveillance & cyberthreats
- Use NordVPN on up to 10 devices
How to do it:
- Download Nord VPN – our recommended VPN for streaming while travelling.
- Connect to your home country (e.g., Australia for 7plus or UK for Discovery+).
- Open your usual broadcaster's site or app and start watching safely.
Velora never endorses bypassing broadcast rights.
A VPN should only be used to access official services — whether paid or free-to-air — while abroad.
Always use legitimate platforms. Unofficial streams often breach copyright and expose viewers to malware or fake ads.
Why the Santos Tour Down Under Matters
The Santos Tour Down Under is the opening round of the UCI WorldTour. Known for high South Australian summer temperatures and short, punchy stages, the 2026 route features a demanding profile. With the return of the city prologue and a Saturday on Willunga Hill, it opens the WorldTour stage-race calendar.
Quick Recap
- Watch live via official broadcasters (7plus, Discovery+, Peacock, etc.)
- Access free and legal coverage via 7plus (AU) and L'Equipe (FR)
- Travelling abroad? Use a VPN to keep access to your home subscription safely
- Avoid illegal or pirate streams — they're unsafe and breach copyright
Coverage is available live and on delay via the broadcasters listed above, with free options in some regions.
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Get NordVPN - Special OfferFAQ
Velora only promotes VPN use to maintain access to legitimate, paid, or free-to-air services while abroad.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
