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Gallery: Evans, Porte and Schleck endure the heat at Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under Countdown: 4 days to go

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Mark Renshaw in his new Omega Pharma QuickStep kit

Mark Renshaw in his new Omega Pharma QuickStep kit
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Frank Schleck and Jens Voigt cool down after a training ride in the hot conditions

Frank Schleck and Jens Voigt cool down after a training ride in the hot conditions
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Ice to be here: Omega riders cool down in the heat

Ice to be here: Omega riders cool down in the heat
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Yukiya Arashiro looks over his Colnago race bike

Yukiya Arashiro looks over his Colnago race bike
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Elia Viviani (Cannondale)

Elia Viviani (Cannondale)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Former pro rider Erik Dekker

Former pro rider Erik Dekker
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Cannondale team will look to set up Elia Viviani in the sprints

The Cannondale team will look to set up Elia Viviani in the sprints
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Astana team ahead of their training ride

The Astana team ahead of their training ride
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano)

Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Giant Shimano team will work for Kittel in their debut race

The Giant Shimano team will work for Kittel in their debut race
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Marcel Kittel models the new Giant-Shimano team kit

Marcel Kittel models the new Giant-Shimano team kit
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Back in action: Frank Schleck returns from his supsension

Back in action: Frank Schleck returns from his supsension
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Mark Renshaw will race in Omega Pharma QuickStep kit for the first time

Mark Renshaw will race in Omega Pharma QuickStep kit for the first time
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida)

Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Robert Gesink will lead the Belkin team at Tour Down Under

Robert Gesink will lead the Belkin team at Tour Down Under
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Robert Gesink and a Belkin mechanic check over the rider's race bike

Robert Gesink and a Belkin mechanic check over the rider's race bike
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Trek teammates Fabio Felline and Frank Schleck

Trek teammates Fabio Felline and Frank Schleck
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Team Sky riders cool down after training

The Team Sky riders cool down after training
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Movistar come into the race as last year's number one team in the World

Movistar come into the race as last year's number one team in the World
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Home favourite Richie Porte (Team Sky)

Home favourite Richie Porte (Team Sky)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano)

Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Former World champion Cadel Evans with his BMC teammates

Former World champion Cadel Evans with his BMC teammates
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The BMC team for the 2014 Tour Down Under

The BMC team for the 2014 Tour Down Under
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing)

Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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(Image credit: Sirotti)
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(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Fabio Baldato and the BMC team

Fabio Baldato and the BMC team
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Team Tinkoff-Saxo

Team Tinkoff-Saxo
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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(Image credit: Sirotti)
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(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Jose Joaquin Rojas will be hoping to win his first stage at the race

Jose Joaquin Rojas will be hoping to win his first stage at the race
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Team Movistar head into the race as the number one ranked team on the planet

Team Movistar head into the race as the number one ranked team on the planet
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The 2014 Tour Down Under starts in just a few days

The 2014 Tour Down Under starts in just a few days
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Team BMC tuck into lunch after their training ride

Team BMC tuck into lunch after their training ride
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Giovanni Visconti on his new Canyon bike

Giovanni Visconti on his new Canyon bike
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Thomas Voeckler before he crashed out with a broken collar bone

Thomas Voeckler before he crashed out with a broken collar bone
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Japan road champion Yukiya Arashiro

Japan road champion Yukiya Arashiro
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Yukiya Arashiro prepares for training

Yukiya Arashiro prepares for training
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Andre Greipel has won 14 stages at the Tour Down Under

Andre Greipel has won 14 stages at the Tour Down Under
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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All eyes will be on Lotto for the sprint stages with Greipel expected to lead the charge

All eyes will be on Lotto for the sprint stages with Greipel expected to lead the charge
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Andre Greipel and his Lotto teammates

Andre Greipel and his Lotto teammates
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans

Former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans
(Image credit: Sirotti)

Scorching temperatures and a stellar line-up are set to make next week's Santos Tour Down Under one of the most hotly-anticipated openers to the road cycling season in recent years.