The Australian race takes place between 21-26 January.
A new season gets underway next weekend, when Soudal Quick-Step will line up for the Men’s Classic, the fast and spectacular criterium race preceding the first World Tour event of the calendar, set to start just a couple of days later.
On paper, three of this year’s Tour Down Under stages should belong to the fast men, including the first one, where the sprinters will have the opportunity to fight for the ochre jersey rewarding the leader of the overall standings. The general classification, however, will be an affair between the climbers, favoured by the presence of Knotts Hill and Willunga Hill.
The former will be tackled on the third day, just a few kilometers from the finish in Uraidla, will the latter – the most iconic ascent of the Tour Down Under – is once again set to feature twice on the penultimate stage, which will conclude on its demanding gradients.
Soudal Quick-Step will take on the six-day race with a solid team consisting of newcomer Pascal Eenkhoorn, Antoine Huby, James Knox, Junior Lecerf, Casper Pedersen, Italian U23 ITT National Champion Andrea Raccagni – who has made the step up from our Devo Team this winter – and the experienced Pieter Serry.
“The Tour Down Under has a parcours with a little bit of everything for everyone: sprinters, puncheurs and climbers. The two stages for the general classification will be demanding ones, so we should see some proper fireworks there. We go to Australia with a good team – a mix of young and experienced riders – and with a lot of motivation, because we aim for a strong start to the season. We’ll take it one stage at a time, try to seize any opportunity and see what Junior can do in the GC”, said sports director Geert Van Bondt.
Photo credit: ©Cédric Depraetere
