Katusha sprinter Robbie McEwen will spearhead his Russian team in Australia’s Santos Tour Down Under, organisers announced on Thursday. McEwen, 37, will be making his return to the peloton after a 2009 season marred with injury.

The Australian’s year started off well, with a win at the Tour Down Under in January. But only two more wins, the Trofeo Cala Millor and the third stage of the Tour de Picardie followed.

McEwen then crashed heavily in the second stage of the Tour of Belgium, damaging his left knee, tearing ligaments and tendons. After surgery and a long rehab, McEwen raced again in the post Tour crit in Aalst/Belgium, where he finished second. His screws were removed in late August, but he had another surgery on his patela tendon in mid-September that again kept him sidelined.

McEwen is a three-time winner of the Tour de France’s sprinters classification and has 12 stages victories in both the Tour de France and the Tour Down Under.

Race director Mike Turtur said the Australian will be a favorite for stage wins in the 2010 event, as well as a contender for the overall leader’s jersey.

“McEwen has won more stages than anyone else in the race’s history,” explained Turtur.

“He is fast, competitive and always ready to put on a show in front of a home crowd.

“Robbie is one of the fastest sprinters in the world and he’ll be a contender for the sprint jersey as well as overall honours in January.”

McEwen will join a star studded start list that includes seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who will be a part of his new RadioShack team’s debut. The new British Team Sky will also be racing for the first time in Oz, led by sports director Scott Sunderland who will be ready to impress on home soil. Newly crowned World Champion Cadel Evans will also be making an appearance, breaking in the rainbow jersey with his new BMC Racing team.

The Santos Tour Down Under takes place in Adelaide, Australia from January 17-24.

Katusha’s 2010 Tour Down line-up:
Alexander Pliuschin (MDA)
Pavel Brutt (RUS)
Denis Galimzyanov (RUS)
Joan Horrach (ESP)
Sergey Klimov (RUS)
Robbie McEwen (AUS)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)