Australian team Orica-GreenEDGE relaxed and ready for Tour Down Under

AUSTRALIAN team Orica-GreenEDGE will have its one and only training ride in Adelaide on Friday ahead of Sunday's Tour Down Under.

Simon Gerrans after winning the Road National Championships in Ballarat. Picture: Michael Klein.

AUSTRALIAN team Orica-GreenEDGE will have its one and only training ride in Adelaide on Friday ahead of starting Sunday's Santos Tour Down Under with the favourite Simon Gerrans.

The team's six Australian riders joined South African Daryl Impey in the city on Thursday as some of the last riders in the peloton to arrive.

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Unlike previous years when they have come straight from the national championships to Adelaide for a week of training, sports director Matt White gave his riders a few extra days at home to prepare for a hectic start to the season.

"There's nothing for us to do, there are no surprises with the course this year and you can get a bit of cabin fever for two full weeks in the hotel," White said.

"The boys had a pretty intense build up to nationals and it is a full-on environment once they get here with training, the race and sponsorship commitments.

"If there was stuff to see on the course we'd check it out but everyone has done the race before, and it's not like they need to acclimatise to the heat.

"Daryl Impey arrived a few days ago from South Africa but the rest are only flying in today (Thursday)."

Stage 1 from Nuriootpa to Angaston on Tuesday is the only stage Orica-GreenEDGE plans to visit before the race, with a focus on Menglers Hill and the threat it poses to riders aiming for the ochre jersey.

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If the bunch splits up the climb, those at the front face a furious 12km time trial to the finish which could put time gaps on the general classification list.

Newly crowned national champion and two-time TDU winner Gerrans will go into the race as favourite in a red-hot field.

After winning the title in 2012, Gerrans battled allergies last year but was able to fight back to win the stage up Willunga Hill on Australia Day - highlighting his ability to deliver on the big stage.

"Everyone's got faith in him," White said.

"We've got a really solid group and importantly we've got someone who can finish off."

White said he had not yet spoken to the team as to which sprinter - Matt Goss or Michael Matthews - would be given last spot on the lead-out train to try to win Sunday night's People's Choice Classic around the River Torrens.

Once a sprinter's paradise, White expects this year's TDU to provide slim pickings for pure sprinters with only the classic and Stage 6 through the CBD certain to provide a bunch sprint finish.

"Even Stage 1 up Menglers - there's no way the whole bunch will arrive at the finish line," White said.

"There could be 15 to 20 guys, who knows.

"So I don't see opportunities for too many sprint stages."