Get to know some of the stars of this week’s Tour Down Under

AS we get ready to celebrate the Tour Down Under’s 20th anniversary, here’s a look at the six men likely to claim the ochre jersey in 2018.

Three-time road world champion, Slovakia's Peter Sagan, is the most dominant cyclist in the world. Picture: AFP Photo

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AS we get ready to celebrate the Tour Down Under’s 20th anniversary, here’s a look at the six men likely to claim the ochre jersey in 2018.

Peter Sagan celebrates winning the road race of the UCI Cycling Road World Championships last year. Picture: AFP PHOTO

PETER SAGAN

Country: Slovakia

Team: Bora-Hansgrohe

Age: 27

Major wins: UCI road world championship (2015, 2016, 2017), Tour de France green jersey (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), Tour of Flanders (2016), Gent-Wevelgem (2013, 2016).

He’s back, bigger and better than ever, having secured his third consecutive world championship in Norway in what has been dubbed the ‘three Pete’. Sagan is still the most dominant cyclist in the world and is bringing the rainbow jersey back to Adelaide’s streets this week. After three second-place finishes in stages last year, he will be keen to go one better this time but is up against an all-star field. But win, lose or draw, his presence alone on the start line is enormous for the race and South Australia.

Richie Porte competing in the time trial at last week’s national championships in Buninyong. Picture: Con Chronis

RICHIE PORTE

Country: Australia

Team: BMC

Age: 32

Major wins: Tour of Romandie (2017), Tour Down Under (2017), Paris-Nice (2013, 2015), Tour of Catalunya (2015), Giro d’Italia white jersey (2010).

Porte finally got what he deserved last year when he claimed his first ochre jersey after years of challenging for the title. Went on to complete a dominant early season by winning the Tour of Romandie and all but winning the Dauphine, then looked headed for the podium of the Tour de France before he crashed out at high speed. But Porte has bounced back and the popular Tasmanian has returned to Adelaide to defend his title. Is in obvious form after a strong showing at nationals and isn’t lacking any motivation so is the man to beat.

Australian sprint star Caleb Ewan. Picture: Michael Klein

CALEB EWAN

Country: Australia

Team: Mitchelton-Scott

Age: 23

Major wins: Giro d’Italia stage (2017), Vuelta a Espana stage (2015), Tour Down Under six stages (2016, 2017)

Australia’s fastest man on two wheels, Ewan is living up to his reputation and answering every challenge that has been thrown at him. He has gone from dominating Australian racing to challenging and even winning in Europe and this year will make his debut at the Tour de France after another crack at Milan-San Remo where he finished 10th in 2017. Ewan won four stages and the People’s Choice Classic last year which will be incredibly difficult to top this week, particularly with Peter Sagan returning and Andre Greipel in the mix. Ewan is good enough in what will be a prelude to what we will see in July.

Germany's Andre Greipel crosses the finish line to win the second stage of the Giro d'Italia. Picture: AFP Photo

ANDRE GREIPEL

Country: Germany

Team: Lotto-Soudal

Age: 35

Major wins: Tour de France 11 stages (2011-2016), Giro d’Italia seven stages (2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017), Vuelta a Espana four stages (2009), Tour Down Under overall 2008, 2010.

Greipel is the most dominant sprinter in Tour Down Under history with 16 stage wins but we haven’t seen him in Adelaide since 2014. But in breaking from his usual early-season program, The Gorilla is back in town and ready to light up the streets once again. Even at 35 he is still one of the fastest men in the world and a mouth-watering showdown with the likes of Sagan and Ewan lies ahead. Whether he’s as fit as in previous editions of the TDU remains to be seen but Greipel only knows one way and that’s flat out.

Four-time Tour Down Under champion Simon Gerrans will race with BMC this season. Picture: Chris Auld Photography.

SIMON GERRANS

Country: Australia

Team: BMC

Age: 37

Major wins: Milan-San Remo (2012), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (2014), Tour Down Under (2006, 2012, 2014, 2016), Tour de France two stages (2008, 2013).

It’s been a seachange for one of Australia’s greatest road cyclists who made the switch from Mitchelton-Scott to BMC in the off-season. Gerrans is a proven winner who has dominated the TDU like no other with four ochre jerseys and some of the biggest one-day races in the world. But now in the twilight of his career his focus has shifted to helping others - namely Richie Porte both in the Tour Down Under this week and at the Tour de France in July. That said, Gerro is looking in terrific condition for a 37-year-old and is still super-motivated so if he’s at the front on stages such as Stirling this week then don’t expect him to hold back.

Nathan Haas edges Esteban Chaves to take second in stage five of the Tour Down Under last year. Picture: AAP Image

NATHAN HAAS

Country: Australia

Team: Katusha-Alpecin

Age: 28

Major wins: Tour of Britain (2012), Herald Sun Tour (2011), Japan Cup (2011, 2014).

Another Australian rider who switched teams in the off-season when he left Dimension Data for Katusha-Alpecin. Haas is a genuine all-rounder who can sprint with the best and climb with the best on his day - as shown in last year’s TDU when he had two top-fives on the sprint days and was second up Old Willunga Hill behind Richie Porte. Also backed it up in Europe with fourth in Amstel Gold which suggests a big win is not far away. Haas is in good form after two fifth placings at the nationals last week, and the new stage finish at Uraidla looks to suit him perfectly so providing the team commits to helping him then he can definitely be a podium contender in Adelaide this week.

Originally published as Get to know some of the stars of this week’s Tour Down Under