Riders in the Women’s Tour Down Under will "receive the same pay as their male counterparts for the first time," the South Australian government announced, according to Michael McGowan of the London GUARDIAN. On Monday, the state government announced that from '19, it would "increase the prize pool in the women’s cycling event" by about A$90,000 ($72,040), putting the competition’s prize pool "on par with the male event." The initial women’s prize pool had been about A$15,000. South Australian Sports Minister Leon Bignell said, "It’s only fair the prize money they receive is on par with their male counterparts for each stage as well as the general classification." Australian Amanda Spratt won this year's Women's Tour Down Under, as well as the Queen of the Mountain prize for best climber. She called the decision "a huge step forward for equality." Women's Tour Down Under Race Dir Kimberley Conte said, "Having equal prize money will result in even more interest from top international female riders and help take this race to the next level" (GUARDIAN, 1/21). The ABC reported women who competed in this year's event "will have their prize money topped up to the same amount as their male counterparts." Bignell said that the women "could look forward to top-up cheques" (ABC, 1/21).
