Caleb Ewan, who will be one of the outsiders for the next World Championships, hopes to have a strong team to support him. Drapac rider Brenton Jones hopes to help his compatriot. He rode the Tour of Qatar and tested the course.

"If I was selected for the worlds that would be an amazing opportunity,” Jones told Cyclingnews. "I’m sure I would be able to be a massive part in Australia’s lead out for Caleb. It’s a course that I raced on at Tour of Qatar [February 8-12], so I know the course. It’s a kermesse-criterium type circuit that both Caleb and I are very familiar with. It’s a course that suits me. If I get selected that’s a dream. If not … that’s life."

Currently at the Tour de Langkawi, he hopes to have the possibility to win a stage, but he has had no luck. "I hope that good win is going to come this week,” said Jones. "We have been close on the first day – a second to Guardini was a good result, but it would have been nice to get the win. It wasn’t to be, so second is something to be content with. “The second day, I was unfortunate – I got a flat tyre … and probably would have been up there again. [On stage four] I was probably a bit too far back. But still it was another top 10 so I am showing consistent form. “

"I’m just waiting to capitalise and get that first win, a big win", he added. "It should be a sprint [even] with a ‘Cat 4’ climb 20km to go. I should be able to get over that for another sprint, and the final day is another flat something 100km. “There are at least two, maybe three opportunities left."