Updated July 05, 2017 14:15:02

Photo: Richie Porte celebrates a stage win in 2017. (AAP: Dan Peled, file)

Next year's Tour Down Under will include a flashback from the past as the biggest cycling event in the Southern Hemisphere heads back to Port Adelaide, which hosted a stage start 20 years ago.

Stage four of the 2018 event will also include a difficult trek up and through the Adelaide Hills which will start in Norwood and finish at Uraidla.

Race director Mike Turtur said the King of the Mountain battle has never been staged up Norton Summit before and could determine what happens towards the end of the stage.

"A lot of people that ride it know that's not the end of it. If you turn right it keeps going again," he said.

"So there's that other little section which I think will be a good counter attack if there's a group at the top of the Norton Summit. If they get clear [of the turn] then it's pretty hard to come back.

"[Australian cyclist] Richie Porte might do a double, you just don't know... stuff like that are always of interest."

Last week the race lost one of its key organisers, traffic logistics manager Terry Roberts, to cancer.

At an event launch, Mr Turtur broke into tears when announcing race routes and talking about Mr Roberts.

"It's up to us to honour Terry and make sure the 20th edition is the best we can do," Mr Turtur said.

Sport and Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said he hoped the 2018 event would generate $60 million for the state's economy.

"It's the best event South Australia has ... it's probably the best event in Australia, in fact it won Event of the Year last year."

Last year more than 43,000 visitors from interstate and overseas while thousands of South Australians lined the streets to watch different stages.

It created 683 full-time jobs.

Mr Bignell said the tour would continue to showcase women's racing.

The tour will run from Tuesday, January 16 to Sunday, January 21.

Topics: cycling, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, port-adelaide-5015, unley-5061, lyndoch-5351, glenelg-5045, port-victoria-5573, norwood-5067, uraidla-5142, mclaren-vale-5171

First posted July 05, 2017 12:21:25