Steele von Hoff is one of the riders selected to ride for the KordaMentha Australia Team at the Herald Sun Tour next month. He is joined by the talented Morton bothers and experienced pro Cameron Wurf in a team that can challenge on all stages according to von Hoff, who normally rides for NFTO.

“It’s definitely a great all-round team and I’m really happy with it,” von Hoff said.

“With Lachie and Angus on the team we’ve got GC options as well. Cameron Wurf was riding very strong at Nationals, he’ll be another one to watch. The prologue will suit him perfectly, people forget about his time trialling abilities.” 

The team is completed by young riders Nick Schultz and Chris Hamilton. Jack Haig leads the Under 23 National Team with Robert Power.

Von Hoff was fifth in the 2014 prologue and thinks that he can wear the leaders jersey after the prologue and stage one sprint if things go his way.

“It would be nice to be wearing the first leader’s jersey of the race coming into the first sprint stage in Bendigo,” he said.

He harbours no hopes of a GC challenge though, as the Arthurs Seat climb is too hard for von Hoff, who knows the climb like the back of his hand.

“Arthurs Seat is a terrible stage for me, but it is my home race,” explained von Hoff, having grown up not far from the base of the climb. “It’s where I train.”

Orica Greenedge, team of the defending champion Simon Clarke, are yet to announce their line up.