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SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Adelaide is a city known for its world-famous wines, Haighs chocolate frogs, a thriving art scene and, of course as any AFL or cricket fan will tell you, the Adelaide Oval.

But this week there’s a new attraction pedalling into town with the arrival of the Santos ‘Tour Down Under’ – the biggest bike race in the Southern Hemisphere – which is set for a thrilling finish smack bang in the centre of Adelaide on January 19.

The event also hosts a UCI ProSeries event, which will see some of the world's best female cyclists head to South Australia. And, for the first time ever, the curtain raiser is being held in Adelaide’s CBD, so a stay at Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury will put you at pole position before the race event begins.

This Tour de Force is more than just a race, it’s the home of the largest Festival of Cycling with live music, mass participation rides for kids and entertainment over 11 action-packed days. The event also sees UCI WorldTour professional cycling (male) teams vie for the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey as they test their mettle on the streets in and around Adelaide.  

The event is world class with some of the very best road cyclists in the world - including Aussie legends Cadel Evans and Caleb Ewan (pictured) and Tour de France winners Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre - taking part.

And, in The Spirit of the Event, Here's Three Wheely Good Reasons to Stay with Us.

1. When it comes to events like the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under (Jan 2020), the Adelaide Fringe Festival (February-March 2020 - the world's second-largest annual arts festival) or Tasting Australia (March 2020 - think10 delicious days of purely South Australian eating and drinking experiences), the Adina Adelaide Treasury puts you close enough to the action and far enough away that you can just enjoy being here.
   
2. The Beatles once used the subterranean tunnels under the hotel to escape their adoring fans on one of their Australian tours. These days, you’re more likely to find the stars from the National Trust taking tours, than a Rockstar, but it’s still a pretty cool thing to do.
   
3. For history buffs, Australia’s first gold coin – the Adelaide Pound – was minted in the building during the 850s Gold Rush. The hotel was originally the offices of the State Treasury and is one of the oldest and most historically significant in South Australia. The building’s foundation stone was laid in 1839 where the Governor of the time used the occasion to proclaim that Adelaide would be the capital.

A Word About Our Bushfires

Like you, our thoughts are with the communities impacted by this summer of devastating fires across Australia. While Adelaide CBD remains unaffected, the impact of fires on communities across our state and country has cast a pall on our hearts and collective national consciousness.  

At TFE Hotels, we have formed a national working group to consolidate our corporate and hotel-based initiatives and will continue to explore ways to aid the relief and recovery efforts. Tourism support in affected areas will be vital in getting communities back on their feet. If you are in a position to, please feel free to donate at any of our Adina Apartment Hotels in Australia or by using this link.