Eros Capecchi, Rubén Fernández, José Herrada, Gorka Izaguirre, Pablo Lastras, Juan José Lobato and Enrique Sanz are the seven riders that will make up the Movistar roster for the Tour Down Under (January 20-25), the first WorldTour race of the year. BiciCiclismo is able to reveal the line-up of the Spanish team one month before the start of the race.
Lobato who already did the race in 2014, will be the fastest man in the blue team and he will be supported by Sanz while Capecchi, Herrada and Izaguirre will target the difficult stages alongside climber Ruben Fernandez who will make his debut with the team. Lastras will have the role ofroad captain.
In recent years, the telephone squad has done well on Australian soil. Javier Moreno and Alejandro Valverde were second in 2013 and 2012 respectively, while Fran Ventoso and Valverde won the Willunga stage in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Over the last few years, the course for the Australian races has been made harder and it is no longer a sprint festival. In 2015, the trend will continue. The first stage will have an uphill finihs in Campbelltown. Torrens Hill (2nd category) will make things difficult in stage 3 while another novelty is the finish in Mount Baker on the fourth day. As usual, the race will be decided in the penultimate stage with a double ascent of Willunga Hill (1st category) before the race ends with a circuit race in Adelaide. Two days earlier, the People's Choice Classic will be held.
In 2014, Simon Gerrans won the race ahead of Cadel Evans, Diego Ulissi and Richie Porte. Tom-Jelte Slagter won in 2012; Gerrans in 2012 and 2006, Cameron Meyer in 2011, André Greipel in 2010 and 2008, Allan Davis in 2009, Martin Elmiger in 2007, Luis León Sánchez in 2005, Patrick Jonker in 2004, Mikel Astarloza in 2003, Michael Rogers in 2002 and Stuart O'Grady in 2001.
2015 Santos Tour Down Under:
January 18. People's Choice Classic (Adelaide), 51km
January 20. Stage 1: Tanunda - Campbelltown, 132.6km
January 21. Stage 2: Unley - Stirling, 150.5km
January 22. Stage 3: Norwood - Paracombe, 143km
January 23. Stage 4: Glenelg - Mount Barker, 145km
January 24. Stage 5: McLaren Vale - Willunga Hill, 151km
January 25. Stage 6: Adelaide
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