Amanda Spratt would not be surprised if the Santos Women's Tour Down Under steps up to the Women's World Tour as early as 2021. The Mitchelton-Scott all-rounder is preparing to win her fourth straight title at the tournament, which will be held January 16-19, and told Cycling News that she is impressed with the professionalism of the event.

"I'm surprised it's not a World Tour already," Spratt told Cycling News. But I think we've made progress step by step. It's a young event, only in its fourth year, so I think it's growing every year."

Organizers of the Santos Women's Tour Down Under announced last October that the four-day race would be streamed live. Race director Kimberly Conte said that while she was excited about the race's elevation to a new professional series, the overall goal is to make it part of the future Women's World Tour.

"This year it's the Pro Series, but I wouldn't be surprised if next year it's the World Tour," Spratt said.

"They're smart and they're going to televise all the stages live on TV this year. That's a very good thing. If it works out, I can see myself stepping up to the World Tour. [The Tour Down Under is a professional race. They look out for the teams, the stages are dynamic courses, and the racing is exciting."

Katrin Gerhout won the inaugural Women's Tour Down Under in 2016, and Spratt has won the overall in three subsequent events.

The Women's Tour Down Under is just one event in a series of races held in Australia in January and February. The season begins with the Bay Critz and then moves on to the Australian Championships, where Spratt hopes to make her mark on Saturday's elite women's road race. It will be followed by the Santos Women's Tour Down Under, a new race in Torquay (January 30), the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (February 2), and the Herald Sun Tour (February 5-6).

The UCI announced last summer that the Women's World Tour would kick off for the first time with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong on February 2. Like the Tour Down Under, Spratt said the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is one of the most professional events she will compete in all season. She hopes that in the future these two races will attract some of Europe's top riders and teams.

"I think it would be great," she said. She said, "From the very first year the race started, it's been very well run, very professional, and it's always taken care of us. They always take care of us. There is also a TV broadcast every year. It's more professional than most one-day races in Europe. I am really happy and proud that this race has become a World Tour status.

"I hope more teams will race here. I think it helps that the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans races are held together. The Tour Down Under is also gaining status. Some athletes and teams may not want to change their schedules too much this year, perhaps because it is an Olympic year.

Spratt said he is in good shape for the Australia Block race and hopes to perform well in front of his home crowd. But the Ardennes Classic in April, the Giro Rosa in July, the Tokyo Olympics, and the UCI Road World Championships in September are her main targets.

"I'm going to take the same approach I've taken the last few years," Spratt said, "I'm not in great shape, but I want to be in good shape. I'd love to win the Australian race." [The Nationals road race is a big goal, and then there's the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans race. After the Cadel Evans race, I'll head straight to Europe. I love racing in Australia in front of my home crowd and I'm always motivated and excited to race here."