Poels: It would be nice to have a new winner at Willunga Hill
Wout Poels (Team Sky) might be making his debut at the Tour Down Under this year, but the Dutch climber is intent on leaving an impression on the race as he targets the GC.
The race is likely to be decided on the climb of Willunga Hill, which this year acts as the finale to the six-day race. Richie Porte - now of Trek-Segafredo - has won on Willunga five times, and although the Australian has only gone onto win the overall once, he started this year's race as the outright favourite.
"I'm going to try for GC," Poels told Cyclingnews from the race.
"We have done recon and it's going to be hard with the weather. I think the race suits me well. I've started the season well sometimes but in other years it takes me some time but we'll see. It would be nice to have a new winner on Willunga but we'll try."
Team Sky have come to the Tour Down Under with a mix of Classics, Grand Tour and one-day specialists. They have a squad that will take on a block of racing that also includes the Cadel Evans race and the Herald Sun Tour, with Poels expected to lead the line throughout the block of racing.
Poels is well versed in having opportunities in week-long and one-day races. However, since his move to Team Sky five years ago he has been utilized as a super domestique in Grand Tours. There was a top-ten in the 2017 Vuelta a España but that came after Chris Froome won the overall. The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season - regardless of the future of the team's sponsor hunt - but he is comfortable with his place at the British team.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com