Spanish rider Javier Moreno out to rain on Aussies' TDU party plans

WHILE all the talk has been about Australia's "big three" at the TDU, Javier Moreno has slipped quietly into town with plans to spoil the party.

Javier Moreno, right, with last year's Tour Down Under winner Tom-Jelte ...

WHILE all the talk has been about Australia's "big three" fighting for next week's Santos Tour Down Under, Spanish star Javier Moreno has slipped quietly into town with plans to spoil the party.

Last year's runner-up has returned to Adelaide with a strong team and ambitions to climb to the top step of the podium and claim the ochre jersey.

In-form Aussies Simon Gerrans, Cadel Evans and Richie Porte will start the race on Tuesday as favourites after training all summer, but Moreno cannot be overlooked.

The Spanish climber clinched second place last year with a strong showing up Willunga Hill when he was third across the line behind Gerrans and eventual TDU winner Tom Slagter on Stage 5.

One of Moreno's Movistar teammates, Giovanni Visconti, on Friday said the team's major goal this week was returning to Europe with the title.

"We come with Javier Moreno for the general classification, I will try to do some stages which are very good for me," Visconti said.

"Like every year, Willunga will be the deciding stage, but there are two or three stages that could have something to say on the general classification like Stirling.

"I hope to do a good stage in Stirling and have a good condition to help Javier on Willunga."

Visconti said his teammates were desperate for today's cool change to arrive after they sweltered through 40-degree temperatures this week.

"Training has been very hard and many times it's dangerous because yesterday it was 46, 48 degrees and for the riders it starts to get dangerous," he said.

"For the head and the body it's not good for sure."

While Movistar will target the overall victory by protecting Moreno, it has also brought fast-men Jose Joaquin Rojas and Juan Jose Lobato for the sprint finishes.

They will all be on the start line for the People's Choice Classic tomorrow night before the TDU begins in earnest with Stage 1 from Nuriootpa to Angaston on Tuesday.

Movistar riders met with TDU officials and staff from South Australian company Thomas Foods International before yesterday's training ride, after the livestock and meat processor was announced as a naming rights sponsor for Stage 3.

Thomas Foods International has also come on board as sponsor of Tasting Australia which is a major culinary festival held in Adelaide in April/May.