WorldTour event still able to invite national team despite promotion of Drapac
The Santos Tour Down Under has announced the seven-man line up that will represent the UniSA-Australia team – the Australian national team – at the race, which starts with the People’s Choice Classic criterium on Sunday, January 19th. Despite the rise of Drapac Pro Cycling to Professional Continental level, meaning that an Australian wildcard has been invited to the event for the first time, race organisers are still able to take advantage of an especially created loophole in WorldTour regulations.
Ordinarily, WorldTour races are the preserve of ProTeams – who are required to ride – and Professional Continental teams, but the Santos Tour Down Under – along with the Tour de Pologne and the GPs of Québéc and Montréal – is allowed to invite a national team thanks to International Cycling Union (UCI) rule 2.15.154. This regulation states that “The Professional Cycling Council may submit proposals to the licence commission for the allocation of a licence for events considered to be of strategic importance to the development of cycling.”
“The Uni-SA Australia team offers a great opportunity for young Australian cyclists to complete against some of the world’s best cyclists in their own country,” confirmed South Australia Minister for Tourism Leon Bignell.
The team will be led by Australian under-23 road and criterium champion Caleb Ewan (Jayco AIS WorldTour Academy), who is set to join ProTeam Orica-GreenEdge in the summer.
“We’ve selected a mix of riders to target general classification (GC) and stage results and expect each of them to acquit themselves well against the world class field,” said Cycling Australia, National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta.
“We’ll certainly be looking for Caleb Ewan to take the strong form he showed at the Mars National Road Championships into the TDU and beyond this season.”
Although the team is effectively the Australian national team, it will be sponsored by the University of South Australia (UniSA) once again.
“We know that getting a ride with Team UniSA-Australia is a dream come true for many young riders and in the past 13 years many of the team’s riders have gone onto success at the highest level,” said UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd.
“Our TDU sponsorship is a great fit for UniSA – it brings the best of international talent to our community while showcasing our local environment to the world.
“At the same time the Tour helps promote healthy lifestyles and, as the biggest health educator in the State, we are proud to support this event.”
UniSA-Australia team for the Santos Tour Down Under
Caleb Ewan (Jayco AIS WorldTour Academy)
Jack Haig (Avanti Pro Cycling Team)
Mark O’Brien (Avanti Pro Cycling Team)
Anthony Giacoppo (Avanti Pro Cycling Team)
Neil Van Der Ploeg (Avanti Pro Cycling Team)
Campbell Flakemore (Avanti Pro Cycling Team/ Jayco AIS WorldTour Academy)
Bradley Linefield (Jayco AIS WorldTour Academy)