The 2020 Tour Down Under will continue despite Australia's ongoing bushfire crisis. The bushfires have affected most of New South Wales and Victoria in particular, and to a lesser extent, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, the latter being included in the route of the women's and men's stage races, which will be held from January 16 to 26.

The race organization issued a statement over the weekend promising to hold the race as scheduled, but "the safety and health of everyone involved is ...... is our top priority."

"Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the bushfires and with the Country Fire Service (CFS) and others who continue to work hard to protect the people and property of South Australia. [We are also in discussions with the Adelaide Hills Council, which is committed to ensuring that the Santos Tour Down Under passes through the Adelaide Hills. The Council and DPTI (Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure) are committed to ensuring that the route is safe and that the men's and women's races are held as scheduled.

"In discussions with Adelaide Hills Council, the most important thing we can do as a race at this time is to promote the Adelaide Hills as being open for business, promote the area and encourage people to visit and support the area. We need to encourage the council, emergency services and the local community to support the Adelaide Hills Council. We will continue to work closely with the council, emergency services and the local community to monitor the situation," he announced.

"As always, the safety and health of everyone involved in the Santos Tour Down Under is our priority."

If the event is to continue, the community will benefit financially from visitors who spend money to follow the event. Meanwhile, the Australian sporting community has already proven that it can support the work of firefighters and disaster victims.

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios pledged last week to donate A$200 for every ace he makes during the Australian summer.

In the cycling world, defending Women's Tour Down Under champion Amanda Spratt told Cycling News last month that she is preparing to evacuate her home in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, and her Mitchell Tong Scott team shared a donation page set up for the NSW Rural Fire Service and the CFS Foundation to support volunteers and emergency firefighters during the bushfire crisis.

Three-time road race world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), who has competed in the Tour Down Under for the past three years, also sent his support to those affected.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy and solidarity to all Australians who have been affected by the devastating fires that have ravaged Australia in recent weeks," Sagan said in a Tour Down Under press release.

The Slovaks will not be racing this year and will start their season at the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina later this month.

"Unfortunately, the race schedule is a little different this year and we won't be on the roads of Adelaide City and South Australia," Sagan said.

"We will miss the Willunga Hill crowd in three weeks, but look forward to returning soon."