ORICA GreenEDGE will be back again to race the Jayco Herald Sun Tour this week.Following the teams success at last year's event, which included the overall general classification victory and multiple stage wins, the team heads into the race with high ambitions.

Sport Director Matt Wilson is ready to seize the teams last opportunity to race in Australia, bringing in a mixed team of older and younger riders.

“The Jayco Herald Sun Tour is our last opportunity to race in front of a home crowd and obviously a special race for our team and sponsors."

“We have Caleb Ewan in strong form and he will obviously be our choice for the sprint finishes,” said Wilson. “Mitch Docker and Sam Bewley are back into the line up to play a key role in the finale of these stages.

“The general classification will be left a little more open. We have some younger riders like Damian Howson and Jack Haig who are both quality climbers.”

21 year old sprint star Ewan goes into the race in fine form after his recent wins at the Santos Tour Down Under. With a strong squad around him and the possibilities of some bunch sprints, the youngster is looking to add more wins to his ever growing tally.

“The team is full of confidence after last week’s Tour Down Under," said Ewan. "We want to continue that success for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour - our last opportunity to race in Australia for the year.”

"I’ve had a look at the course. Stages two and three look like they’d be the most likely to end in a bunch sprint so it’d be great to walk away with a couple more wins before I head back to Europe.”

With the stages similar to last years event, ORICA-GreenEDGE go into the race prepared and ready for the five day challenge.

 “On paper the final Arthurs Seat stage is the most difficult and important stage for general classification,” continued Wilson. “That won’t change this year, but often an earlier breakaway result can set the race up going into that last day, so we will be mindful of that and make decisions out on the road.” 

Jayco Herald Sun Tour kicks of on the 3rd of February with a short sharp 2.1km prologue, before the riders head out on to the roads around Melbourne, finishing with the iconic Arthurs seat climb.

ORICA-GreenEDGE Riders at Jayco Herald Sun Tour:

Sam Bewley (NZ, 28)

Mitch Docker  (AUS, VIC, 29)

Caleb Ewan  (AUS, NSW, 21)

Jack Haig  (AUS, VIC, 22)

Damien Howson  (AUS, SA, 23

Christian Meier (CAN, 30)