All eyes will be on ‘adopted’ Australian Esteban Chaves when the Tour Down Under gets underway next week in Adelaide.

Chaves hails from Bogota in Colombia but will feel right at home given the fact he rides for Aussie team Orica–Scott alongside homegrown talent such as Simon Gerrans (last year’s winner), Caleb Ewan and Luke Durbridge.

 

Orica will have high hopes for their star rider in the big race given his amazing breakthrough season last year when he finished third in the Vuelta a Espana and second in the Giro d’Italia.

Chaves, 26, has a Grand Tour victory in his sights this season and will be well aware that the Tour Down Under could be the start of really big things for him in 2017.

“This year, we will start a little different in Australia but we will again set some big goals and hope for this success again,” the Colombian said.

“The boys are super motivated to race near their homes and I am a little bit Australian now so I am happy for this too.”

Tasmania’s Richie Porte, who has finished runner-up in the last two years at the Tour Down Under, is likely to be a strong challenger yet again.

But he has not raced since breaking his shoulder in a crash at the Rio Olympics back in August and even he does not know how rusty he may be going into the first event of the season.

 

Elsewhere in the peloton, 36-year-old Gerrans is going for an amazing fifth Tour Down Under title, reigning world champion Peter Sagan will be showing off his rainbow jersey, while Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Sergio Henao aim to make a big impression with team-mate Chris Froome holding back his season debut until the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race.

The men’s race gets underway on Tuesday January 17 with a 145km stage from Adelaide to Lyndoch. The race will then visit Paracombe, Victor Harbor, Campbelltown and Willunga Hill for stage finishes before being decided on Sunday January 22 with a thrilling street circuit loop in the heart of Adelaide.

However, the festival of cycling in South Australia kicks off on Saturday January 14 with a presentation of all the teams and riders at 6.30pm in Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga in Adelaide. There will also be a free concert featuring ARIA award winners Birds of Tokyo.

Saturday also marks the start of the women’s race with a stage from Hahndorf to Meadows, with three further stages including a final criterium inside Victoria Park on Tuesday January 17.

Reigning champion Katrin Garfoot – fresh from road and time trial wins in the Australian National Championships - will again be the one to beat, with Orica-Scott team-mate Amanda Spratt likely to push her hard.

 

But the Tour Down Under is not just for the professionals – there is plenty on offer for amateur riders, families and just fans of the sport.

On Friday January 20, thousands of riders will take part in the Bupa Challenge Tour, tackling the same route as the pros from Norwood to Campbelltown just hours before the fourth stage of the TDU rolls through.

And there are a host of events taking place along the route of the Tour through next week, including the Unley Gourmet Gala on Monday, the Glenelg Tour Street Party on Wednesday and the Stage Six Family Day in Adelaide next Sunday as the race comes to its exciting conclusion.

 

Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur says: “We look forward to seeing everyone out cheering and appreciate the ongoing support of Australia’s premier cycling race.”

For those unable to make it to South Australia in person, Channel Nine/Gem will be showing live coverage of each stage starting next Tuesday from 12.30pm AEDT.