Australian cycling great Cadel Evans in town to compete in Tour Down Under

THE Santos Tour Down Under gets under way as Adelaide's withering five-day heatwave recedes, leaving Australian great Cadel Evans to scorch around the city's streets from Sunday night.

THE Santos Tour Down Under gets under way as Adelaide's withering five-day heatwave recedes, leaving Australian great Cadel Evans to scorch around the city's streets from Sunday night.

Evans heads one of Tour Down Under's hottest ever fields.

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Australia's only Tour de France winner and road world champion, Evans on Friday took time out before his training ride with BMC Racing Team to check out the 2014 TDU's official program which is in The Advertiser on Saturday and our special site.

The 40-page program includes interviews with some of the race's biggest names as well stage maps and a comprehensive guide to the week-long festival of cycling.

While most visiting European cyclists will desperately welcome Saturday's cooler temperatures, Evans said the hot weather had not bothered him and he was feeling good ahead of Sunday's criterium around the River Torrens.

The 36-year-old will be one of the favourites for the ochre jersey when the race proper begins with Stage 1 from Nuriootpa to Angaston on Tuesday.

'It's hillier than all the Tour Down Under's that I've raced before, more selective, and hopefully better for me," said Evans, who is making his ninth appearance in the race.

"It's going to be tough in the early season and there are a lot of guys here fit and very motivated and I suppose I should probably count myself among them."

Thousands of cycling fans are expected to pack the city's new-look Victoria Square from 6pm tonight when riders are officially presented to the crowd, followed by a free concert by The Potbelleez.