In an exciting announcement for sport fans across Australia, the Seven Network has unveiled a star-studded commentary team for the highly anticipated 2023 Santos Tour Down Under
.
Direct from picturesque South Australia, Seven’s coverage will kick off on Sunday, 15
January at 12.00pm AEDT, live and free on Seven and 7plus, with resident cycling expert, Mark Beretta, and his Sunrise co-host and fellow racing enthusiast, James Tobin, leading the way across the eight-day broadcast.
This year’s Santos Tour Down Under all-star commentary team includes crowd favourite and international “voice of cycling”, Phil Liggett, who covered his 50th Tour de France in 2022, and Matthew Keenan, one of Australia’s leading cycling broadcasters. Both will use their indepth racing knowledge during play-by-play commentary from the panel.
Former champions of cycling Robbie McEwen, Anna Meares and Gracie Elvin will bring valuable insights to their roles as experts on the commentary panel.
Beretta will host the broadcast onsite, while Tobin will deliver the colour and excitement from the roadside daily for both the men’s and women’s races. Olympic cyclist Scott McGrory OAM will additionally be part of the team, conducting interviews with riders.
For the first time in Santos Tour Down Under history, the full women’s race will be broadcast nation-wide on Seven and 7plus, from Sunday 15 January, with the women’s race returning as a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s WorldTour event – the top level of road cycling competition.
The former cycling greats on the broadcast team will bring un-paralleled expertise and insight to viewers:
- Robbie McEwen, one of Australia’s greatest cyclists and three-time Tour de France Green Jersey holder, will make his return to the Santos Tour Down Under commentary team, providing expert takes on the action.
- Cycling’s golden girl, Anna Meares, who was recently named to lead the 2024 Australian Olympic team as the Chef de Mission, will add colour to the action as part of the broadcast team once again.
- Gracie Elvin, who retired from cycling in 2020, is in a unique position to bring valuable insights to the women’s race panel, having raced with and against many of the women competing in the 2023 event.
Mark Beretta said he was thrilled to be part of Seven’s Tour Down Under broadcast team in 2023.
“The Santos Tour Down Under is one of the greatest sporting events in this country and we are so privileged to have the world’s best cycling teams bring their stars to Australia for the first pro event of the year,” he said.
“We have the perfect team combining years of broadcast and professional cycling experience, and what could be more fitting for the return of international racing at the Santos Tour Down Under?
“The fan experience at the Santos Tour Down Under is amazing. To have the opportunity to get open access to the riders and the teams, in front of a beautiful backdrop across South Australia, is unbeatable,” Beretta said.
“The race routes and finishes are something else, showing off this amazing region and some of Australia’s best-kept secrets. This is one of my absolute favourite events of the year and I can’t wait to saddle up with international cycling’s greatest commentator, Phil Liggett, and our expert team for the best Tour Down Under ever.”
Seven’s coverage begins on Sunday, 15 January, with the Women’s Stage One race, from Glenelg to Aldinga. Each stage of both the men’s and women’s races will be broadcast daily, with catch-ups available on 7plus.
Fans can also tune into the 7plus Santos Tour Down Under Hub for extra highlights and replays from the event.
TV broadcast times on Seven:
Sunday, 15 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Women’s Ziptrak Stage One
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
Monday, 16 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Women’s Singapore Airlines Stage Two
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7plus, 12.30pm live on 7flix and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7plus, 12.30pm live on 7flix and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7plus, 11.30pm live on 7flix and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7plus, 12.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7plus, 9.30am live on 7flix and 7plus |
Tuesday, 17 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Women’s Let’s Go Motorhomes Stage Three
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.30am live on 7two and 7plus |
Men’s efex Prologue
| Sydney | 6.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 6.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 5.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 5.30pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Perth | 3.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
Wednesday, 18 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Men’s Ziptrak Stage One
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus, 12.00pm live Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
Thursday, 19 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Men’s Oakley Stage Two
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus, 12.00pm live Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
Friday, 20 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Men’s Hahn Stage Three
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus, 12.00pm live Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
Saturday, 22 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Men’s THINK! Road Safety Stage Four
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7plus, 12.30pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7plus, 12.30pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7plus, 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on 7two and 7plus, 12.00pm live Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7plus, 9.30am live on 7flix and 7plus |
Sunday, 23 January
Santos Tour Down Under
Men’s Schwalbe Stage Five
| Sydney | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Melbourne | 12.00pm live on 7two and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 11.30am live on Channel 7and 7plus, 1.00pm live 7two and 7plus |
| Perth | 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus |
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