SYDNEY, May 14, 2010 (AFP) – Next year’s Tour Down Under, the southern hemisphere’s biggest cycling race, will take place from January 16 to 23, organizers said on Friday.

Race director Mike Turtur said the dates were confirmed at a meeting of the UCI ProTour Council in Switzerland.

“The 2010 Santos Tour Down Under was the biggest and most successful race yet and we are looking forward to another great event in 2011,” he said.

“The race has become an integral part of the global racing calendar and continues to grow in popularity.”

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has taken part in the last two editions, drawing huge crowds to the race around Adelaide which was won this year by Germany’s Andre Greipel.