It has been a long off season for cycling fans, but fear not as top-tier racing returns later this month.
The Tour Down Under is the first men’s WorldTour race of 2020 and always attracts star names eager to mark up an early victory and ease the pressure.
While we’re still waiting for confirmation on the star names lining up in the Women’s Tour Down Under on January 16, the men’s squads have been announcing their rosters.
You can check out the provisional start list for the 2020 Tour Down Under, which runs from January 21 to January 26, here.
The biggest name announced so far is Lotto-Soudal’s Caleb Ewan, a home favourite and seven-time stage winner down under.
Ewan said: “This is my home race and of course I am more than motivated.
“Having won already seven stage wins in the Santos Tour Down Under, I missed a stage win last season so this year I want to be back on the podium.
“I have the form and the speed to win, but many things will depend on tactics, other circumstances and other sprinters. I will be ready.
“I cannot wait to start my season.”
Supporting Ewan will be Brit Jonathan Dibben, who makes his debut with Lotto-Soudal, Thomas De Gendt, Adam Hansen, Matthew Holmes, Roger Kluge and Tosh van der Sande.
Another rider making his debut in Australia is André Greipel, racing for the first time in the colours of his new Israel Start-Up Nation squad.
Greipel will be joined by Alex Dowsett, Rick Zabel, James Piccoli, Ben Hermans, Omer Goldstein and Guillaume Boivin.
UAE Team Emirates have announced their line up and will not be taking their star sprinter Fernando Gaviria.
Instead Belgian prospect Jasper Philipsen will lead the charge, with under-23 time trial world champion Mikkel Bjerg making his WorldTour debut.
Diego Ulissi, Aleksandr Riabushenko, Marco Marcato, Sven Erik Bystrøm and Vegard Stake Laengen will complete the UAE roster.
CCC Team will be spearheaded by Kiwi Paddy Bevin again this season, after Bevin won a stage and led the race for four stages last season.
Bevin said: “It was nice to win a stage last year, lead the race for the best part of the week, and come away with the points jersey. But being so close to the overall is always going to be a tough memory for me. I take confidence knowing I was close and I can be close again.”
>>> Dave Brailsford says ‘no one should underestimate Chris Froome’
Alongside Bevin, CCC will take Josef Černy, Simon Geschke, Szymon Sajnok, Joey Rosskopf, Francisco Ventoso and Łukasz Wišniowski.
While they have not officially announced their line-up, the newest WorldTour team Cofidis are expect to launch the new era with their star sprinter Elia Viviani.
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Porte and Dennis to ride Santos Festival of Cycling 2022Confirmed teams and riders taking part in the 2022 Santos Festival of Cycling (January 23-29)
-
The Tour Down Under will not be taking place in 2022
The race will be replaced once again by the 'Santos Festival of Cycling' as border closures and quarantine rules continue
-
Richie Porte wins up Willunga Hill as Sarah Gigante smashes QOM at Santos Festival of Cycling
It may not be a regular Tour Down Under, but some things remain the same
-
How to watch the Santos Festival of Cycling 2021: Live stream all the action from the Australian stage race
The Santos Festival of Cycling 2021 is a unique opportunity for Australian pros to compete in a domestic stage race - here’s how you can live stream this year’s event.
-
Tour Down Under 2021 cancelled due to coronavirus concerns
The first WorldTour event of next year has been called off as the global pandemic rumbles on
-
Tour Down Under 2021 teeters on edge of cancellation due to Covid-19
Race organisers expect to make a decision about the viability of the January event next week
-
Five things we learned from the Tour Down Under 2020
The first WorldTour race of the season is done and dusted
-
Richie Porte obliterated the Willunga Hill KoM - here's how his ride compares to previous years
The Tasmanian knocked 30 seconds off his previous best time on the climb
