Nathan Earle, of Hobart, Launceston’s Bernie Sulzberger and Campbell Town’s Will Clarke, who led the race in 2014, will all contest this year’s tour.

The five-stage 790-kilometre race begins and ends in the capital Baku.

​Meanwhile Nook’s Mark Jamesion will fly the flag for Tasmania at the Grafton to Inverell. The 56th edition of the 228km one-day race through NSW is on Saturday.