SA's Jack Bobridge in top shape to take on Menglers Hill at 2014 Santos Tour Down Under

JACK Bobridge will start the TDU with hot form and local knowledge that tells him to expect fireworks when the peloton hits Menglers Hill.

ADELAIDE boy Jack Bobridge will start Tuesday's Santos Tour Down Under with hot form and local knowledge that tells him to expect fireworks when the peloton hits Menglers Hill near the Angaston finish.

Bobridge grew up at Gawler, just 30km from the climb, which is expected to split the field before riders time trial their way the final 12km to the finish line.

It means there could be decent time gaps on the general classification after the first stage and a top-10 begin to form ahead of Stirling tomorrow and the Corkscrew climb on Thursday.

"I think it will be all pretty solid going into the bottom of Menglers but then it just depends what teams want to do," Bobridge said.

"It's really the first time for the GC teams to show their cards and maybe a few will, maybe a few will hold back.

"But I wouldn't be surprised if only 30 guys get to the finish at the front."

Last week, fellow Australian Cadel Evans warned of the impact Menglers Hill could have on deciding the ochre jersey.

"You're not going to win GC (general classification) there, but you can lose it," Evans said.

"That's going to make it really selective right from the first stage. So that will make it very different and a little bit of nervous racing right from the start."

Bobridge, who rides for Dutch team Belkin Pro Cycling, is in the best physical condition he's been in for years, and it showed in last week's national championships when he finished fifth in the 183.6km road race.

Despite that, he has been adamant all week that he will be working for team leader Robert Gesink who was fifth overall in the 2010 Tour de France.

"I'll be racing for Robert," Bobridge said.

"Me and David Tanner as well as the rest of the guys are going well and we'll try to put Robert in a good position."

Bobridge and his Belkin teammates had an easy day on Monday when they were joined on a beach ride by sponsors and V8 Supercar driver Tim Slade.

Bobridge will write a daily column in The Advertiser during the Santos Tour Down Under.