Rik Zabel makes WorldTour debut where dad Erik impressed 16 years ago - at the Santos Tour Down Under

SIXTEEN years after German Erik Zabel came to Adelaide to win stages of the TDU, son Rik has made his WorldTour debut on the same roads.

SIXTEEN years after German Erik Zabel - one of the greatest sprinters of all time - came to Adelaide to win stages of the Tour Down Under, son Rik on Tuesday made his WorldTour debut on the same roads.

Although his dad wasn't there to watch him roll out of Nuriootpa en route to Angaston, he had some words of advice for the 20-year-old ahead of his BMC Racing Team debut.

"He was here in 1999 and 2000 and he won one or two stages, now I'm here and it's a WorldTour race - it's a crazy story," Rik said.

"He only said it's really hard to race here in January because the Australian guys are really motivated and in good shape because it's been summer.

"He told me it's always very hilly and not easy terrain, you've got to be in good (condition) to be good here."

Erik Zabel was the most dominant sprinter of his generation, winning six Tour de France green jerseys and Milan-San Remo four times in the 1990s and 2000s.

He retired in 2008 after a 15-year professional career and admitted to doping during the sport's dirty era.

Rik said he grew up "a big fan" of both his dad and of the sport.

"My mum and me were always travelling with him and watching the races so I fell in love with cycling this way," Rik said.

"I didn't feel pressure (growing up), he was a big champion and a great cyclist but I have to go my own way and that's what I do."

Rik said Erik, 43, still rides a bike and the pair train together when he is home.

Erik Zabel racing back in 2008 in a scene from documentary film Hell on Wheels.

"But no, we don't sprint each other," Rik said.

But if they did, who would win?

"I don't know, he's still fast, but I hope me," Rik said.

"I'm normally more of a sprinter, not as fast right now as Kittel or Greipel, but I am a sprinter or a classics rider, good at positioning or on the flat roads.

"But my job this week is to help Cadel, for me it's really an honour to ride with Cadel, there's a big crowd out there for him so it's an honour to work for him."

On his first trip to Australia, Rik said he enjoyed riding in warm weather but Adelaide's five-day 40-degree heatwave last week was a bit much.

He plans to stay in Adelaide until February 2 before heading straight to the Tour of Dubai.