FDJ and Trek have revealed their rosters for the opening WorldTour race of the season. Sports directors Thierry Bricaud and Alain Gallopin have named the riders in interviews with Velo-club.net.

Trek will go into the race with three candidates for the GC. New signings Ryder Hesjedal and Peter Stetina will make their debut but it remains to be seen whether their condition will allow them to be competitive. Hesjedal has traditionally not been at his best in the Australian race while Stetina is coming back from his horrific crash at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The team's best GC card is likely to be Julian Arredondo.

For the sprints, the team will count on Giacomo Nizzolo to start his season with a bang, supported by lead-out man Boy van Poppel and new signing Kiel Reijnen. Jack Bobridge completes the roster and has a shot at a stage win after he won the opening stage and the mountains jersey in 2015.

FDJ will be led by Steve Morabito who will get a rare chance to ride for himself. Murilo Fischer and Anthony Roux will test themselves in the sprints, supported by classics riders Johan Le Bon and Yoann Offredo and fast rider Laurent Pichon. The team is completed by the always reliable Benoit Vaugrenard.

The Tour Down Under starts on January 19 and consists of six stages.