Written by
Chris Flavell
Last time updated
20/01/2026
Tour Down Under is traditionally the first big event of the cycling season. Aussie punters love to have a bet on this race. That’s why we have put together a list of the best Tour Down Under betting sites and top betting advice.
It can be hard to find the best bookmakers in Australia, especially when keen to bet on one particular sport or event. To help, we have made a recommended list after considering several key factors, including quality of odds, best app, and live betting options.
Our experts also looked at things like selection or markets, live streaming, and much more. We examine betting apps to make sure they’re usable and have all the desktop features available. Read on to discover more about each key element. We even try to highlight bookies we know have good bonuses for customers once they have registered.
When it comes to the Tour Down Under, we think bet365 is the best bookie to go to.
Here you’ll find a fantastic range of Tour Down Under betting odds and markets, as well as a user-friendly live betting platform. Also, note that you can enjoy betting with bet365 on any device you like. They offer native apps for Android and iOS in addition to a fully optimised mobile website. They were the first to price up Tour Down Under outright winner odds and are quick to offer stage winner odds too.
The easiest way to maximise your winnings is to simply look around and search for the best Tour Down Under betting odds. This may sound like rookie advice, but the majority of punters actually just go with the first set of odds they come up with. Don’t make this mistake since just a slight price boost can lead to a significant increase in potential payout. Even the newest Australian bookmakers offer odds on Tour Down Under, so you’ll have more than enough options available.
That’s why we suggest you do an odds comparison test before each bet since it’s the only way to be sure that you have ended up with the best offer possible.
Tour Down Under Odds Comparison
Here were the odds for the Tour Down Under in 2026 with bet365 and Unibet as an example. We listed the top 10 in the market but others were available at bigger prices. As you can see, comparing odds is always a good idea. If you think Finn Fisher-Black is going to win then you are better backing him with bet365 instead of Unibet.
Some of the world’s top riders have been named as potential competitors for the Tour Down Under 2026 and will feature at the top of the betting markets for this year’s event.
Current champion Jhonatan Narváez is returning to defend his ochre jersey as part of a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG side. The 28-year-old is one of two former Tour Down Under winners on UAE’s seven-man squad, including 2023 winner Jay Vine.
Australian Vine won the mountains classification at the Vuelta a Espana for the second year in a row in 2025, a silver medal in the individual time trial and gold in the mixed relay at the UCI World Championships to cap a memorable campaign.
Vine and Narváez will also be joined by British star Adam Yates who is a Grand Tour stage winner and has won the Tour de Suisse, Tour of Romandie and Volta a Catalunya.
Australian Jack Haig will be part of a strong Ineos team that also features Michal Kwiatkowski and Ben Swift. Sprint star Sam Welsford will also make his Ineos debut as he looks to add to his six Tour Down Under stage wins in the last two years. He could face some stiff competition on the flat from Brit Matthew Brennan (Visma) and Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon).
New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black (Bora), who finished third overall in last year’s race, Aussie star Ben O’Connor (Jayco) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), are other names to note that have this event as their starting point of the season.
Tour Down Under 2026 Stages
This year’s Tour Down Under has an interesting mix of stages to suit many different riders. We start with some fast, flat finishes that will have the sprinters interested before heading into the hills that will decide the outright winner. Let us talk you through what you can expect from each day’s action.
South Australia Prologue – January 20
The race will open with an individual time trial for just the second time in race history as the main GC contenders look to set an early marker or not lose time to their rivals.
The 3.6-kilometre prologue will begin just beyond the City of Adelaide Tour Village in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and continue east to finish after a lap of the Victoria Park criterium circuit.
Stage 1 – Tanunda – Tanunda– January 21
Stage one will see riders tackle 120.6 kilometres through world-famous wine country, starting and finishing along Murray Street in Tanunda where the sprinters will have an early chance to shine.
Stage 2 –Norwood – Uraidla – January 22
Day two promises 148.1 kilometres of all-out effort as cyclists race from inner-city Norwood to Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills.
Three huge climbs are on the agenda, with a grind up Norton Summit followed by a visit to Mt Lofty and the men’s first dual ascent of notorious Corkscrew Road.
Stage 3 – Henley Beach – Nairne – January 23
This 140-kilometre third stage is set to head south to Flagstaff Hill and Coromandel Valley before visiting Adelaide Hills communities including Clarendon, Kangarilla, Meadows and Echunga.
Climbers will step it up on the steep slopes of Wickham Hill at McLaren Flat and Mount Barker’s Summit Road, with a sprint in Echunga before a 19-kilometre loop leading to a final showdown in Nairne.
Stage 4 – Brighton – Willunga Hill – January 24
This queen stage features three ascents of the famous Willunga Hill for the first time as the GC battle comes firmly to life.
This 176-kilometre stage begins in beachside Brighton and will travel through McLaren Vale before climbers start their work. Look for coastal sprints at Aldinga’s Snapper Point beforehand, and plenty of team tactics en route to a summit finish after the third and final push.
Stage 5 – Sterling – Stirling – January 25
Stirling is set to host the stage start and finish, with scenic loops through towns including Mylor and Aldgate inviting fans to embrace the action.
At nearly 170 kilometres this is among the longest closing stages in Santos Tour Down Under history, chosen to keep the world’s best working strategically until the very last moment. We’ll see a two-kilometre climb on approach to Stirling, sprints in Heathfield and a weary winner emerge after a huge day in the saddle.
Tour Down Under 2026 Betting Tips and Predictions
Check out our overall winner predictions below. Here you will find our in-depth look best outright betting tips for the Tour Down Under 2025. We will highlight the riders we think can make an impact in the final standings after five thrilling stages. These are based on the strength of each team, rider form, and the 2026 Tour Down Under route.
We also highlight where to get great odds for any selections we make. We round up our top picks below before explaining each one in greater detail.
Best Bet: Back Buitrago for Outright Win
Santiago Buitrago looks a value price to claim overall victory at Tour Down Under 2026. The Colombian climber will relish Willunga Hill but his punchier style lends itself generally to other stages too.
All Australian betting operators know that having excellent bet apps is a complete must in this day and age. All of the best sports betting apps in Australia cover Tour Down under, so all of you who prefer to wager on the go should be pleased with what’s on offer. But in case you can’t decide which one to use, our suggestion is to try the Unibet betting app.
They offer competitive Tour Down Under betting odds and a fantastic selection of additional features, such as a stats centre and blog. Unibet is a highly-reliable bookmaker, so you won’t have to worry about safety. There are versions of the app available for bothiOS and Android devices. You can also access the web-based app by just entering the Unibet site using a mobile browser. It works perfectly on every type of device or screen size, which guarantees a smooth betting experience. Scroll below to see more of the Unibet app offering.
Unibet offers mobile-friendly betting apps for Android and iOS. It makes betting on the go quicker and easier than ever before. It is also a great app when combined with Unibet’s live streaming offering.
Popular Tour Down Under Markets
One of the most important things to do before betting is to choose the market that gives you the best chance of winning. Punters have plenty of options when it comes to Tour Down Under betting. The outright markets for this competition are the same as those you’ll find when betting on cycling events throughout the world, including Grand Tours and when betting on Olympic cycling. You can bet on the GC winner as well as on other categories we will further discuss below.
You can also bet on various markets for each stage, including stage winner and match bets. If you want to know what Tour Down Under bets are most popular, check out next few paragraphs.
Outright Betting
Punters favourite Tour Down Under bet is without any doubt the outright winner. As the name suggests, you are betting on who will end up as a General Classification winner. Bet365 Australia usually has each-way betting available on this market, which is a great way to further increase your chances of success. These bets are available at almost any betting site in Australia, regardless of the region. All NSW bookmakers have it, the same as the bookies from Western Australia or Victoria.
There are several variations of outright markets, which includes leading points scorer, leading climber and best young rider. You might even be able to get a bet on who will be the leading Australian rider at some of the native bookies. Make sure you hunt down the best prices for all your outright wagers if you are serious about pocketing a profit in the long run.
Stage Winner
If you’re looking for a Tour Down Under betting market that comes with huge odds, then stage winner market is a perfect choice. On flat stages the sprinters usually dominate, and the bookie’s favourites end up on top more often than not. However, hilly stages are a lottery, and they can often throw up an upset at massive odds. Finding a winner at a high price isn’t easy, but it is possible if you carry out enough research and have just a bit of luck.
The crucial thing for success with this Tour Down Under bet is to figure out rider’s tactic. You often hear contenders reveal tactical plans for the upcoming stage on social media or news sites. If a rider is planning to attack early, they are usually worth a bet. We recommend going each way for big priced wagers as you don’t want to miss out on a return if your selection comes home in 2nd or 3rd place.
Match Betting
Match wagers are another interesting way of betting on Tour Down Under. Bet365 Australia can always be relied upon to form match betting markets not only for Tour Down Under but for all other big cycling events as well. The odds in the match betting markets are not as big as those for the stage winner market, but you have a far higher chance of getting paid.
With match bets, you are betting which of two selected riders will perform better on a single stage. It doesn’t matter where they finish. Once your selection is ahead of the other rider, you win the bet. Match bets are often combined in accas. If you are going to do this, keep the number of legs to a minimum. Accas with lots of legs are extremely difficult to land. So in our opinion, sticking to single bets is the easiest way to profit from your Tour Down Under betting endeavours.
Live Betting
After the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Act in 2001, online Tour Down Under live betting is not available with any Australian betting sites. However, bookmakers have found a way to get around the regulations without breaking any rules. All of the betting sites from our list, including Unibet Australia and Palmerbet, have live betting odds displayed on their sites.
To place a bet you simply need to pick up the phone and give the bookie a call. This may sound like a lot of work, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see how easy it actually is.
Another option is to join Betfair instead. Because they are one of the betting exchanges, it means you can place live bets online. It isn’t covered by the same regulations because you are betting against other punters.
Betfair is the number one choice for anyone that wants to place live bets online. You can do that at Betfair without having to pick up the phone.
As we mentioned before, cycling isn’t exactly the most popular sport among Australian punters, so it’s no wonder that local betting sites don’t offer live streams of Tour Down Under. But since live streaming is becoming more and more popular among Aussie bettors, we hope that operators will introduce live coverage of this race. Until that happens, you can still keep your eyes on Tour Down Under live stats with Unibet’s or bet365’s stats centres.
Geo restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to …Read more
Tour Down Under Betting Bonuses
All of our recommended bookies are known for having generous welcome offers and free bets for their customers. You won’t be able to see the best betting bonus offers until you have registered with one of the best bookmakers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Online bookies just aren’t allowed to promote their betting bonuses and promotions to entice new customers. Instead, head straight to the promotion section of the site as soon as you have registered. These bonuses could be a matched deposit bonus or a free bet offer, all of which can then be used on the Tour Down Under.
Betting Strategy
Our cycling experts reveal some of the most useful Tour Down Under betting tips that will help you spot high-value bets. This is a very competitive race, so all of the riders will do their best to win the title. That’s why you have to keep your eyes wide open and use every help you can get. Not only that you’ll learn how to spot the best Tour Down Under bets with ease, but it would be much easier for you to avoid risky ones. This advice can also be used for other big cycling events such as for Giro d’Italia betting.
Here are our top three Tour Down Under betting tips:
Keep your eyes on Aussie rides – Domestic cyclists have a great track record on Tour Down Under, so don’t hesitate to back up some of them in the outright market.
Follow news and social media – Riders more often than not talk about their tactics in the interview before the race. Also, don’t forget to check out the weather conditions, since that is one of the most important factors that can easily change the dynamic of the race.
Be careful with hilly stages – Unlike flat parts, steep mountain stages are much more likely to produce unexpected winners at huge odds. So, watch carefully for the players who ride with confidence, since they are most likely to make a great result.
History and Records
In cycling terms, the Tour Down Under is a relatively new race. It was first held back in 1999. As we mentioned at the beginning, Tour Down Under is the first major cycling event of the year. Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana come after it. If you want to learn more about betting on these two races check out our other cycling betting guides.
The winner of the first-ever Tour Down Under was Aussie rider Stuart O’Grady. That was the first of two wins for him in the race, and he is still one of only four riders to have won the title more than once. Andre Greipel (2), Daryl Impey (2) and Simon Gerrans (4) are the only other multiple winners of the Tour Down Under.
The host nation has dominated the race, winning it on no less than 13 occasions, including 2023 winner Jay Vine for team UAE Emirates. The winner of the General Classification wears an Ochre Jersey. Jerseys are also awarded for the leading sprinter, climber and young rider. There is also a daily award for the most aggressive rider on every stage. Since 2008, the Down Under Classic has been held as a prelude to the Tour Down Under, with some good prize money up for grabs.
Conclusion
After assessing some of Australia’s top bookies, we have been able to come up with a short list of the best Tour Down Under betting sites on offer. We based this on a whole host of factors, including where you can get the best apps, future markets, odds boosts and range of betting markets.
We only considered bookies that are licensed and regulated by the Australian government and are known for being safe and secure for online punters. Those with plenty of payment options and good customer service also scored highly.
We have rated and reviewed Australia’s top online bookmakers. Click the button below to take a look at our list of the best for the Tour Down Under.
Several solid bookies are offering Tour Down Under betting, so we have to do several tests to determine which ones are the best. bet365 andPalmerbet came on the top of our list, but there are several other operators well worth your attention, including Unibet and BlueBet.
Which bookie offers the highest Tour Down Under odds?
There are tens of Tour Down Under betting markets available, and bookies are constantly tuning the odds, so it’s hard to determine who always has the best prices. That’s why we advise you to do an odds comparison test before every real money bet.
What are the best Tour Down Under bets?
All of the bookies from our top list have great Tour Down Under markets available. Picking the outright winner as well as stage and match betting markets are all possible.
Can I watch Tour Down Under live on Australian Betting sites?
As far as we could see, no Aussie betting site has streaming rights for Tour Down Under. Bet365 Australia has live streaming of a wide range of sports, including soccer, rugby and horse racing. However, at the time of writing, we couldn’t find any Australian Tour Down Under betting site that had live streaming of the race.
What’s gambling really costing you?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Leaving so soon? Just 1 minute!
Here’s our choice to help you choose!
This site uses cookies. To accept cookies click on accept
Our experts manually test and compare every betting site to offer our readers detailed and up-to-date information. We rank bookies based on several important criteria, including apps, markets, odds, special features etc. To learn more about the review process, visit the How we rate page.
We are a professional review site that may receive compensation from the betting sites and products we review. We test each bookmaker to a high standard and all views given are our own.
