Tour Down Under hall of fame honours Turtur, Gerrans

Inaugural race director Mike Turtur and four-time winner Simon Gerrans are among the first five inductees into the Tour Down Under hall of fame.

Phil Liggett, the broadcaster known as the voice of cycling, fellow commentator Paul Sherwen and German sprint ace Andre Greipel were also honoured.

The Santos Tour is having its 25th edition this week and the hall of fame was unveiled on Friday night at the event’s annual legends dinner in Adelaide.

Turtur stepped down as race director in 2020, handing over to fellow local Stuart O’Grady, and this is the first year he has been back at the Tour.

It is an emotional return for Turtur after the 2022 death of his wife Sandy Pisani, the Olympic hockey gold medallist, who was also involved heavily in the Tour.

Gerrans is the only rider to win the Tour four times - 2006, ‘12, ‘14 and ‘16 - and he also claimed five stages amid one of Australian cycling’s greatest racing careers.

Likewise, Greipel reigned when the Tour was essentially a sprinter’s race, snaring a record 18 stage wins in his nine visits between ‘01 and 2020. He also won the ‘08 and ‘10 overall titles.

Liggett is in a select group who have been to all 25 Tours and the long-time British sports commentator was a pivotal figure when the race started.

Sherwen was his commentary sidekick at the Tour and international races such as the Tour de France until the former British professional cyclist died suddenly in late 2018.