Andre Greipel and Lotto-Belisol team looking to make early statement at Tour Down Under

ANDRE Greipel's arrival in Adelaide on Thursday morning has sent out a clear mesage to UCI WorldTour rival cycling teams.

Andre Greipel is greeted at Adelaide Airport.

ANDRE Greipel's arrival in Adelaide on Thursday morning has sent out a clear mesage to UCI WorldTour rival cycling teams.

Greipel said his Lotto-Belisol team is 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 after some members of Sky ProCycling arrived just before the New Year.

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

Greipel says Hansen 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 - before stage one hits the roads of SA on January 21, 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.

"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.