Lotto-Belisol team leader Andre Greipel eyes 2014 Tour Down Under victory

ANDRE Greipel and his Lotto-Belisol team are serious about taking Australia's premier cycling race - the Santos Tour Down Under - by storm.

ANDRE Greipel and his Lotto-Belisol team are serious about taking Australia's premier cycling race - the Santos Tour Down Under - by storm.

Lotto-Belisol was the second team to arrive in Adelaide today after some members of Sky ProCycling arrived just before the New Year.

The Belgian-based outfit arrived from Europe this morning with six of its race team members, including Greipel, but without Australian Adam Hansen who is due to arrive shortly.

Hansen says Greipel is the man best suited to claiming the general classification at this edition of the Tour Down Under.

But, with just 11 days before the 20-team peloton stretches its early season legs across the tarmac for the race preview, the 50km People's Choice Classic, Greipel was confident his team would snare valuable early season points.

"The off season was good. Now we have to start working again and hopefully we can start the season like we always do and get an early win,'' Greipel said at Adelaide Airport.

ABOVE IT ALL: Young fan Sam welcomes Andre Greipel to Adelaide ahead of the Tour Down Under. Picture: SARAH REED.

"The plan is to stay healthy and try and get the kilometres in the legs of course and if the condition is OK and it works out it's always nice to have an early win."

Greipel has claimed two overall victories at the Tour Down Under and has a record 14 stage wins.

The 16th edition of the Tour Down Under will bring in the New Year for the UCI's WorldTour series.

The six stage race ends on Australia Day.

Cyclist Andre Greipel arrives with his Lotto Belisol team. Picture: Sarah Reed