Tour Down Under: Simon Gerrans is the bookies' favourite to win 2016 edition
Triple Tour Down Under winner Simon Gerrans is widely tipped to win the opening WorldTour race of the 2016 season - Geraint Thomas is on at 11/1


Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) is the bookmakers' runaway favourite to win the 2016 Tour Down Under in Australia, taking place from January 19-24.
The 35-year-old Australian has won the race on three previous occasions: 2006, 2012 and 2014. A win this year would see him celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first TdU victory in style.
Gerrans was forced to miss last year's race thanks to an untimely crash in training, resulting in a broken collarbone. An amazingly unfortunate series of crashes and injuries then punctuated the remainder of 2015, with Gerrans involved in race-ending incidents in Strade Bianche, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.
>>> Tour Down Under 2016: latest news, preview, start list and more
Paddy Power currently has Gerrans at 7/2 to take the 2016 victory in the six-stage opening WorldTour race, with last year's winner Rohan Dennis and new BMC team-mate Richie Porte both at 9/2.
British hope Geraint Thomas (Sky) is temptingly listed at 11/1, followed by Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) at 12/1.
Newly-crowned Australian road race champion Jack Bobridge, who returns to the WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo after a year with Australian squad Budget Forklifts, is 66/1.
For those who like a really optimistic punt, Ian Stannard (Sky) and Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) are both 500/1.
>>> Tour Down Under live TV guide
Stage five on January 23 to Willunga Hill is likely to be the race decider, with two ascents of the climb usually creating a final selection and shaping the top 10 overall before a final slat stage in Adelaide.
The full provisional start list for the race has now been published, with 20 teams comprising seven riders apiece.
Tour Down Under: Recent winners
2015 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC
2014 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
2013 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Blanco
2012 Simon Gerrans (Aus) GreenEdge
2011 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Cervelo
2010 Andre Greipel (Ger) HTC-Columbia
2009 Allan Davis (Aus) QuickStep
2008 Andre Greipel (Ger) High Road
2007 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r
2006 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
-
No joy for Yates after Giro d'Italia victory: five talking points from stage 14
Yates won the stage, but he wanted to win the race
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Men's Velocio LUXE bib shorts review
They're as good as the price demands, quickly becoming the go-to bib shorts
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Geraint Thomas announces he will race in 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Welshman took to Twitter to reveal he will return to the event after failing to defend his road race title in 2018
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas to make season debuts at Volta ao Algarve
David Gaudu, Remco Evenepoel and Tobias Foss will also race in Portugal from tomorrow
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Extinction Rebellion planning to disrupt Santos Festival of Cycling
Activists will blockade routes on the race in protest against the title sponsor of the Adelaide-based event
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Richie Porte targets Giro d'Italia one more time
Australian says Ineos Grenadiers want him to enjoy his last professional season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Geraint Thomas signs new contract with Ineos Grenadiers
Welshman will remain at the team he has been with since its inaugural year of 2010, until 2023
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Postponed Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans races may take place ahead of September Worlds
The races, if the rumour is true, will be taking place before the UCI World Championships in Wollongong, Australia
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Geraint Thomas has bike stolen during training ride, later recovered by police
The Welshman had stopped at a cafe on the French Riviera when his bike was nicked
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Geraint Thomas set to sign new deal with Ineos Grenadiers despite 'tough' negotiations
The Welshman's current contract runs out at the end of 2021
By Ryan Dabbs • Published