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

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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.

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