"The first two stages should be pretty straight forward and should be settled in bunch sprints," Mitchelton-Scott's head sports director, Matt White, tells Cyclingnews. "That said, the weather will always influence the day at a race like the Tour Down Under. It's basically hot or really hot, but the strength of the wind will determine how stressful a day it will turn out to be.
"Stage 1 is very flat but has many kilometres of open and exposed roads, and that's where the heat and the wind will factor in. We have started in Port Adelaide many a time but never finished there so the run-in and circuits will be new for all. There are several small climbs and descents in the first half of the race, but the break should be quick to go, and expect a rider from the national team from UniSA to be in there for sure."
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'Sidequest' - Noah Hobbs saved by local fan after getting lost during Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
British rider benefits from the kindness of strangers -
'I was a bit exhausted in the final stages' - Bad luck spoils defending champion Jasper Philipsen's day in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Alpecin-Premier Tech racer forced to settle for 18th after getting boxed in behind Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe -
Prototype Dura Ace wheels, an updated Canyon Aeroad frame and unreleased tyres from Specialized and Michelin - Opening Weekend tech gallery
All the tech from both races at Opening Weekend -
Joint podium finish in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne salvages Tudor's Opening Weekend - 'When you're the only guy on the team bus that didn't need a doctor, that's super tough'
Matteo Trentin and Luca Mozzato podium after team started Sunday with just five riders after mass crashes in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
