The Santos Tour Down Under women's race returns to the calendar after a two-year absence with its promotion to the Women's World Tour.

The well-organized and supported race has been held in conjunction with the men's World Tour-ranked Tour Down Under in January since 2016 and will move from 2.2 status to 2.pro status in 2020. The race then faced two years of international event cancellations due to border restrictions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, but still maintained momentum into the top tier, instead offering a pro-level style of racing to national competitors, which some already-ranked events are struggling to offer women. The event even included live coverage, a requirement for World Tour events.

"Since 2016, the Santos Tour Down Under Women's Race has delighted athletes and fans with its excellent organization and high-profile racing," UCI President David Lapartiento said in a statement. "We are delighted that this event will join the major race series in women's professional road cycling alongside the biggest and most important events in the world

."

"This Australian race will show the depth and strength of the women's peloton and set the tone for a season of intense and hard racing.

The race is the first event on the 2023 calendar and will run as a three-stage road race from Sunday, January 15 to Tuesday, January 17.

It is also the first Women's World Tour (WWT) stage race to be held in Australia and will be added to the one-day elite women's event at Cadel Evan's Great Ocean Road Race, the first WWT race in 2020. However, this race also faced cancellations in 2021 and 2022 related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is clear that the Santos Tour Down Under will return with impact and will share an important story in the process - inspiring a new generation of athletes and providing a true spectacle," Katrine Hill of South Australia Deard, Minister for Recreation, Sports and Racing, said.

The event has been run under Race Director Kimberley Conte, but from 2023 it will step up to the WWT, with Stuart O'Grady, two Assistant Race Stuart O'Grady will lead the women's event with two assistant race directors, Annette Edmondson and Carlee Taylor, both based in South Australia. Both are former professional cyclists based in South Australia and have participated in the race many times.

"We share a passion for this great race and are committed to seizing the opportunities that a new position brings," O'Grady said in a statement.

"The move to the UCI Women's World Tour means that elite teams (which increasingly have both men and women on their rosters) can share resources and reaffirms South Australia as the perfect place to start each professional cycling season This will be a great opportunity to.