Mitchelton-SCOTT target Sprint Stages at the Santos Tour Down Under

Mitchelton-SCOTT today named the seven-man team who will support star sprinter Caleb Ewan in a packed field at the Santos Tour Down Under next week.

In a change from recent campaigns, the team will take a singular rather than split focus into their home and the first WorldTour race of the 2018 season, focusing solely on stage victories rather than overall honours in what is shaping up to be a sprinter’s showcase. 

With no clear favourite for the general classification, the focus for Mitchelton-SCOTT will be on the fast finishes with sprinter Ewan.

Caleb Ewan – Sprinter, Team Leader, “I thought my form was good coming into the nationals and I’ve been training well so to be in the race and do well is a big confidence boost coming into the Tour Down Under and I think I am probably in my best shape ever for the Australian season."

“It’s always great to put on the green and gold jersey as the crit champion.  I’ve had that for the last few years which is nice because I don’t get to wear it a lot in Europe and it’s nice that when I do get to wear it, it’s in front of a home crowd in Australia.” 

“There’s probably only three stages that really suit sprinters in the 2018 Tour Down Under, and then there may be a fourth depending on how it is raced. Looking at the profiles, the first two stages and last stage suit me best and then maybe the third stage if it is a more negative race.”

“This year, the sprint field is a lot better than it’s been in the past two years so it’s definitely going to be challenging.” 

In what head sport director Matt White is touting as the best sprint field in 20 years, Mitchelton-SCOTT and Ewan will find themselves against the likes of world champion Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe), 11x Tour de France stage winner Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Italian Ella Viviani (Quickstep). 

On the general classification front, BMC Racing lead the list of favourites with reigning champion Richie Porte and four-time winner Simon Gerrans, UAE Emirates bring Rui Costa whilst other Australians Nathan Haas (Katusha) and Jay McCarthy (Bora Hansgrohe) are also to watch

The Team:

Jack Bauer (NZL, 32)
Alex Edmondson (AUS, 24)
Caleb Ewan (AUS, 23)
Mat Hayman (AUS, 39)
Damien Howson (AUS, 25)
Daryl Impey (RSA, 33)
Cameron Meyer (AUS, 29)