Peter Sagan bringing rainbow jersey to Adelaide for Tour Down Under

cTHE rainbow jersey is returning to Adelaide.Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan will race January’s Tour Down Under as the reigning world champion after successfully defending his title in Doha.

Slovakia's Peter Sagan celebrates after winning in the men's elite road race event as part of the 2016 UCI Road World Championships on October 16, 2016, in the Qatari capital Doha. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR

THE rainbow jersey is coming back to Adelaide.

Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan will race the Tour Down Under in January as the reigning world champion after successfully defending his title in Doha yesterday.

It will be the fourth time the prestigious jersey has been on the start line in the race following Oscar Camenzind in 1999, Cadel Evans in 2010 and Philippe Gilbert in 2013.

Sagan is not only headed to the January 14-22 TDU as the world champion but also as the reigning European champion and winner of the green jersey at the Tour de France for the past five years.

“It’s fantastic,” TDU race director Mike Turtur said yesterday.

“To have the rainbow jersey in the race for any organisation is a big honour and to have someone of the calibre of Peter Sagan who is also the No.1-ranked rider in the world is brilliant.”

Turtur said there had been huge interest in the TDU since news of Sagan coming to Adelaide was announced last month.

Now he expects it to hit fever pitch ahead of Sagan debuting for new team Bora-Hansgrohe as the two-time defending world champ.

“The social media response has been terrific and we had another spike overnight, of course,” Turtur said. “People know they can come to Adelaide and see the rainbow jersey.”

Sagan, 26, was widely praised in the past year for the way he represented the rainbow jersey with aggressive racing every time he was on the start line. It bodes well for TDU organisers and cycling fans who will be hoping to see him in full flight in January.

“That’s his style and that’s what’s made him so popular, that never-say-die attitude,” Turtur said.

Turtur is in constant dialogue with WorldTour teams about finalising their roster for next year’s race.

He said team managers were waiting until after the world championships at the weekend to make concrete plans for 2017.

As well as Sagan, BMC’s Richie Porte and Rohan Dennis and Orica-BikeExchange’s Simon Gerrans are also expected to race in Adelaide.

There is also a chance Australian Michael Matthews - who was fourth behind Sagan in Qatar - may debut with his new team Giant at the TDU.

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Originally published as Peter Sagan bringing rainbow jersey to Adelaide for Tour Down Under