"This stage should follow a similar format to stage 1 and see the sprinters take control of the race and decide the finish," says Mitchelton-Scott head sports director Matt White. "A sprinter should be in the lead after the opening day of racing, so none of the GC teams will need to control the race. We've used terrain like this in the Tour Down Under before, and while the wind and heat could again be factors, this should again end in a bunch sprint. With Andre Greipel not returning to the race this year, it should be a big battle of the big three sprint stars at the race: Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani and Caleb Ewan."
TOPICS
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Rider protest 'very fair and correct' but could have been 'done better', says Il Lombardia boss Luca Guercilena
Organiser supportive of riders' protest, say 'our goal is to improve the safety of cycling' -
'It's the last day of racing so you just give it your all' - Per Strand Hagenes closes out the year with solo win in Paris-Tours
Jasper Stuyven, Christophe Laporte round out podium -
HG Cross: Michael Vanthourenhout scores solo victory in Dendermonde as Pauwels Sauzen go 1-2
Yordi Corsus second for Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw, Joran Wyseure third -
'Until the last kilometre I did the perfect race' – Florian Vermeersch misses defence but keeps his Gravel World Championships podium record intact in Nannup
'I was actually pretty confident I could do a good sprint' says defending champion after coming second to Magnus Bak Klaris in a four-way charge to the line
