Rohan Dennis, defending Tour Down Under champion, has spoken to SBS Cycling Central about who he thinks will be his biggest rivals in next week’s race.

“Gerrans you can’t go past. Obviously Richie, he’s always good, but he’s my teammate. There are always a couple more guys, Cameron Meyer and Nathan Haas, Australians in general are very strong in nationals,” he said.

Dennis says he expects another Australian to win the race, as home advantage always counts for something at this race.

“We’re fit and we’re used to the heat, being from Australia. That’s our biggest advantage,” he said. “I know all these roads pretty well. I’ve trained on them since I was a junior and since I started riding.

“That being said, local knowledge is not going to get me over the line first.”

Dennis says he expects the stage to Victor Harbor to feature crosswinds that may catch some GC riders out. He also says positioning on the stage three climb to Paracombe on the Corkscrew Hill is key before the descent to Campbelltown .

“On the Corkscrew stage, if I play the same card I did last year, which I shouldn’t have, and start at the back of the climb, I may not see the guys again and I could lose the race just on Stage Three. I have to be very attentive and not get caught out in minor little details and things like that,” he said.