Tasmanians Scott Bowden and Nathan Earle have been included in UniSA-Australia’s team for next week’s Tour Down Under in Adelaide.
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Bowden, 22, who competed at the Rio Olympics, and Israel Cycling Academy’s Earle, 28, will be joined in the Andrew Christie-Johnson-managed composite team by several riders from last year’s National Road Series champions Bennelong SwissWellness Cycling Team.
The team includes track world champion Alex Porter (SA), reigning team pursuit world champion and Olympic silver medallist Sam Welsford, former WorldTour riders Steele von Hoff (VIC) and Timothy Roe (SA), and Zak Dempster (VIC).
“We have excellent riders that can compete at the World Tour level and fight for wins,” Roe said.
“I want to target the overall general classification – top 10 is a goal of mine to show that I can still compete at this level.”
Fellow Tasmanian and reigning Tour Down Under champion Richie Porte, will headline team BMC’s title tilt.
The 32-year-old will have the support of Australians Simon Gerrans, Miles Scotson and Rohan Dennis, plus New Zealand’s Patrick Bevin and Swiss duo Tom Bohli and Danilo Wyss.
The six-stage race runs from January 16-21, following the People’s Choice criterium on Sunday.
The opening 145km stage starts in Port Adelaide and finishes Lyndoch.
The women’s tour starts on Saturday with several Tasmanians such as Georgia Baker taking part following heart surgery last year.