UCI World Road Race Champion Peter Sagan will lead Bora-hansgrohe in the Tour Down Under when racing gets underway next week.
Tour Down Under stage winner Jay McCarthy will join Sagan on Adelaide roads in a massive boost to the team’s prospects. McCarthy has finished inside the top four in the general classification at the previous two Tours Down Under.
Among their teammates are 2017 Tour de France stage winner Maciej Bodnar, Peter Kennaugh, Daniel Oss, Sam Bennett and Rüdiger Selig.
Race director Mike Turtur said the return of Sagan evoked memories of his attack on Willunga Hill against famous names like Evans, Valverde and Sanchez.
“We expect another aggressive showing at the race from Sagan,” Turtur told tourdownunder.com.au.
“Seven years ago we saw Sagan attack over the last climb on Willunga Hill finishing fifth, battling it out alongside Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez.
“The race and the fans are in store for something special again when he tackles the climb this year.”
BORA-hansgrohe start list: Peter Sagan (Slovakia), Daniel Oss (Italy), Sam Bennett (Ireland), Maciej Bodnar (Poland), Peter Kennaugh (Great Britain), Rüdiger Selig (Germany), Jay McCarthy (Australia)