Italian road cycling champion Elia Viviani and Danish national champion Michael Morkov will feature at SuperDrome

Rio Olympic Games 2016 gold medallist Elia Viviani and 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medallist Michael Morkov have been given permission to pursue their first love at Friday’s The Advertiser Track Down Under.

RIO Games 2016 gold medallist Elia Viviani and 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medallist Michael Morkov have been given permission to pursue their first love at Friday’s The Advertiser Track Down Under.

Deceuninck-Quick-Step sports director Rik van Slycke has allowed the pair, the reigning national champions for Italy and Denmark, respectively to race at the Adelaide SuperDrome before their Santos Tour Down Under duties take precedence from Sunday.

The pair have made no secret of their love of track cycling.

Morkov, 33, is aiming to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with the madison, shelved after the Beijing Games, to be reintroduced to the track program.

Elia Viviani (right) and Michael Morkov at the TDU Village. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY

“I really got my inspiration to ride my bike after watching the six-day races on the track, that was really my passion,’’ the Dane said.

“When I was young I was with the Danish national teams doing the worlds and World Cups.

“I was several times here in Australian, mostly in Sydne, y and did also my junior worlds in Melbourne in 2002. I did a couple of professional six-day races and the Olympic Games.

“I have never raced here (at the SuperDrome) but last year Elia and I had a chance to do a few training sessions there so this year we decided to bring our track bikes and do a few training sessions.

“Now we’ve got the chance to race as well, it will be fun- we both love track racing.

“We may be involved in the scratch race and time trial.”

Morkov and Viviani, 29, returned from a long training ride on yesterday afternoon still battling the effects of jet leg, having arrived with their team on Friday night.

The Italian — a Stage 3 winner at last year’s Tour Down Under — is aiming to improve on a stunning 2018 season.

He had 18 victories, claimed the points classification at the Giro D’Italia and won stages.

He ran third in the points classification at the Vuelta a Espana, with stage wins, but didn’t race at the Tour de France.

With three-time UCI world champion and 2018 Paris-Roubaix champion Peter Sagan — his main rival throughout 2018 — riding in the TDU, Viviani is looking to find ways to beat the Slovak. There will be plenty of chances to refine tactics, as the pair navigate 858km in the six stages of the Tour Down Under.

“After last year I really stepped up, it was my biggest year in cycling,’’ Viviani said.

“I think some steps I need to do more this year, the big classics is the big goal of the season and probably the Tour de France is the next step after winning stages at the Giro and the Vuelta.

“Let’s hope 2019 it’s better, I think we spent a good winter in training (in Europe) and we’re ready to smash it again, all the team had an amazing season last year.”

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Originally published as Italian road cycling champion Elia Viviani and Danish national champion Michael Morkov will feature at SuperDrome