National cycling guru Brad McGee suggests Australia has riches galore to challenge at world championships

BRAD McGee says Australia has its best chance since Cadel Evans' historic crown in 2009 of winning a rare world road race title.

FORMER Olympic champion Brad McGee says Australia has its best chance since Cadel Evans' historic crown in 2009 of winning a rare world road race title.

As Cycling Australia's high-performance road co-ordinator, McGee also would love to have Evans back riding for his country.

McGee maintains this year's world championship road course in Spain has "Australia written all over it" and he would be keen to have Evans part of the assault five years after his historic win.

McGee was in Adelaide this week seeking expressions of serious interest from Australia's top riders as they assembled for the opening World Tour event of the year, the Tour Down Under.

McGee said he wanted to connect with riders early in the year to gauge their interest in racing at both the Commonwealth Games and the world championships in Ponferrada in Spain on September 28.

Missing from the talks because of pre-arranged commitments was Evans, but McGee is still keen to lure the former world champion and Tour de France winner into green and gold lycra for the world titles in the north of Spain.

"Cadel is the one I missed talking to. He had a lot on'' McGee said.

Cadel Evans sits at the front of the peloton during the second stage of the Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed

"He is still open minded with national selection. If he was there he would always give his utmost to Australia.

"The course in Spain would suit him. But it is up to him.''

Australian cycling is riding a high with Orica GreenEDGE one of the most successful professionals teams in world cycling after its World Tour elevation and record numbers of Australians now on pro team rosters.

A world title would cement Australia's place as a giant of road cycling.

"We want guys to be pro-active with their teams, speak to them and then factor in these races to their programs,'' McGee said.

"We need to be very clear with peoples intentions.

"On paper this course is very do-able. It has Australia written all over it.

Cadel Evans after the end of stage two. Picture: Simon Cross

"This is potentially the best chance we have had of winning a world road title since Cadel.''

McGee will stay in close contact with riders as they fulfil their team commitments and map out plans for the 2014 season.

McGee said Australia had plenty of options to play with on a course which could suit several styles of racing.

"It has a couple of long drags, a long climb, a short climb, a flattish finish. It is 254km long and has 4000m of climbing,'' McGee said.

"We have people like Rohan Dennis, Simon Gerrans, Matt Goss, even Michael Mathews and Mark Renshaw, who, if they put their packages together, could come in with high hopes.''

McGee said ideally he would like to have a handle on the pool of talent he can pluck from for both the Commonwealth Games and world championships in the next month.