Australia’s only UCI Pro Continental team, Drapac Professional Cycling, are motivated for success as they take on their hometown race, the 2016 Jayco Herald Sun Tour starting next week.

The 2016 Jayco Herald Sun Tour will be staged from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 7th February, as the climax to an exciting summer of cycling and marks the 63rd edition of the race.

For Drapac, it’s a rare opportunity for the Melbourne-based team to shine on the roads the team has called home since 2004.

Last year Will Clarke (Tas) continued his impressive career record in prologues, claiming victory in the Sun Tour’s opener at Southbank by one second over sprinters Caleb Ewan and Drapac teammate Brenton Jones. Clarke will return to defend his stage win next Wednesday evening.

"I am really looking forward to this year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour,” he said. “The event always draws in a quality field and offers us riders a challenging course.

Clarke will be joined by Kiwi strongman Tom Scully, Adam Phelan (ACT), along with a strong trio of General Classification contenders in former Australian champion Travis Meyer (WA), 2015 Tour of Utah stage winner Lachlan Norris (Vic) and climbing specialist Nathan Earle (Tas).

“We have a strong team for the race and will look to be active in each stage,” said Clarke. “Personally, I am looking for a top performance throughout the race and can hopefully pick up a stage win along the way."

Drapac has already tasted success in 2016, with a stage victory at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina. Directeur Sportif Tom Southam said the team wouldn’t be holding back at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour with its “strong and experienced” squad.

“Our goals as a team are to put a rider on the podium and race for stage wins,” he said. 

“The team found early success in the first stages and has a history of amazing performances in the unique short prologue and it’s always nice to start on a high. We have last years prologue winner in Clarke, who will be motivated for it once again.”

The 2016 Jayco Herald Sun Tour will be presented by Jayco and the Herald Sun, along with the continued support from the Victorian State Government.