The route

Before we look at who’s in contention for the ochre jersey, we need to look at the route which, once again, is centred on the climb of Willunga Hill.

An uphill finish to Paracombe also features, making this a race for the rouleurs and climbers but – as ever – bonus seconds could prove decisive in deciding the final destination of the ochre jersey.

Stage one rolls out of Unley and should be a day for the sprinters, with the Lyndoch finish identical to the one at which Caleb Ewan kicked off last year’s WorldTour with victory.

Stage two is likely to see the ochre jersey change hands, however, with the uphill finish at Paracombe having proved decisive in the past – Rohan Dennis’ victory there in 2015 earned him enough time to go on to win overall.

Though only 1.87km in distance, the climb – which kicks up at is steepest in the middle – has an average gradient of 6.7 per cent to shake off the winter cobwebs.

The Aussies

Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott)

Leading the home riders is defending champion Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott), who will bid for a fifth Santos Tour Down Under victory.

Despite Gerrans winning three of the last five editions, however, no rider has ever successfully defended the Tour Down Under title.

The 36-year-old, who could be riding the race for the final time with his contract up in the winter, has already proved he has the form however, finishing second in the national road race.

The former Team Sky man kicked off Orica-GreenEDGE’s life as a WorldTour team with victory in this race, and he certainly has the characteristics to do so once again: Paracombe and Willunga Hill will hold no fear for a two-time Monument winner and Ardennes Classics specialist.

Orica-Scott, as an Aussie team, place great emphasis on getting their riders in shape for the season opener too, so look out for sprinter Caleb Ewan on the flatter stages as well.

Tour Down Under best result: winner (2006, 2012, 2014, 2016)

Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing)

Rohan Dennis won the Santos Tour Down Under in 2015, when Simon Gerrans was absent, doing so on a course similar to this year’s.

Dennis bolted to victory at Paracombe, timing his climb to perfection as he sailed past team-mate Cadel Evans to pull on the ochre jersey – and he did not relinquish it for the rest of the race.

His chances in 2017, however, much as they did when he won in 2015, will be in what capacity he is going to be used.

With team-mate Richie Porte also among the favourites, Dennis worked for the former Team Sky man on Willunga Hill, as Porte went on to finish second overall last year.

But Cadel Evans was expected to be team leader when Dennis won two years ago, and having two big-name home favourites as options will do BMC Racing no harm.

Tour Down Under best result: winner (2015)

Lachlan Morton (Dimension Data)

Lachlan Morton is back on the WorldTour, having signed for Dimension Data, and the 25-year-old Australian returns after a great year in 2016.

Riding for Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis in America, Morton won the Tour of the Gila and Tour of Utah and will now look to prove he can be a GC contender on the bigger stage too.

The climbs in his home country aren’t as big as those he enjoyed Stateside, but his penchant for attacking makes him a rider to watch at the Tour Down Under.

Dimension Data have Aussie options in the sprint stakes too, with Mark Renshaw enjoying a rare shot at the team leadership, backed by Tyler Farrar and Jacques Janse van Rensburg, before he resumes his usual role as Mark Cavendish’s key lieutenant.

Tour Down Under best result: 32^nd (2013)

Jay McCarthy (Bora-hansgrohe)

While all eyes will be on his world champion team-mate, Bora-hansgrohe’s Jay McCarthy proved himself in his home country 12 months ago with a stage win and fourth place overall.

McCarthy beat Diego Ulissi and Rohan Dennis to win on the uphill finish into Stirling, and while the gradients of Paracombe are more severe it’s a mark of what he can do.

Also a former podium finisher at the Tour of Turkey, McCarthy’s hopes will rest on what he can do on the hilltop finishes, and also what his role is in support of Peter Sagan, but the 24-year-old earned the right to be considered a contender with his performance 12 months ago.

Tour Down Under best result: fourth (2016)

The others

Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe)

World champion Peter Sagan is the star attraction at this year’s Tour Down Under, starting his second stint in the rainbow jersey in Adelaide for his new team, Bora-hansgrohe.

The German team’s ambition has been outlined by the big signings they’ve made for 2017, having stepped up to the UCI WorldTour for the first time, and Sagan will be tasked with delivering a winning start in Adelaide.

Among the leading contenders in the sprints, Sagan will be able to rack up bonus seconds even if he is unable to add to the 14 victories he enjoyed as world champion last season.

As for the hilltop finishes, Sagan was fourth on Willunga in his last Tour Down Under appearance back in 2010.

His career’s been an uphill progression ever since, and victory Down Under would be the perfect way to kick off life with Bora-hansgrohe.

Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb)

Wilco Kelderman switched from LottoNL-Jumbo to Team Sunweb in the winter, and will kick off life with his new team by leading them in Adelaide.

Still only 25, Kelderman has proved he can be a GC contender but is still looking – despite Grand Tour top-tens to his name already – for his big breakthrough in the week-long races.

His last appearance, back in 2013, saw him finish sixth overall, and like the other climbers his hopes of improving on that will be dependent on who snaffles bonus seconds on the sprint stages.

Nevertheless, Kelderman has proved himself as a bright starter in previous campaigns and a top-ten spot is definitely on the cards.

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)

One of four British riders in the Team Sky line-up, alongside Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, and neo-pro Owain Doull, Geraint Thomas is the one with pedigree down under.

A stage winner, and third place finisher, with his goals moving to later in the season in recent years, Thomas has ridden in the service of others in recent editions, however.

But the Giro d’Italia is among his possible targets in 2017, and so – though Sergio Henao, who finished third last year, could well be team leader, Thomas is also in with a shout.

Much will depend on how he is viewing the race – a form-finder, as in previous years, or as a genuine, winnable race, as in 2013.

Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott)

Orica-Scott say they will be riding for Gerrans, while Caleb Ewan is their option for the sprints, but Colombian Johan Esteban Chaves is very much a contender too.

The 26-year-old, after two Grand Tour podium finishes and Il Lombardia success in 2016, can no longer hope to slip under the radar and kicks off what should be a big 2017 season in his team’s home country.

It’s a smart move from the Australians, who have proved particularly adept at sheltering their prodigious young talents, as the media attention will be focussed instead on the home favourites.

But Chaves’ climbing ability is undoubted, and his 2015 Abu Dhabi Tour win – in a race featuring just the one meaningful climb – could be an indicator of his chances in Adelaide.

Santos Tour Down Under – previous winners

2016 – Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE)
2015 – Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing)
2014 – Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE)
2013 – Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco Pro Cycling)
2012 – Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE)