Preview stage 2 Tour Down Under - UAE's Vine and Narvaez take on queen stage in pole position

We preview stage 2 of the Tour Down Under that is set to take place on the 22nd January, having an estimated start time at 01:50CET and finishing at 05:20CET. After the first sprinter showdown, this will be a very important day for the overall classification with the most difficult climbing of the week on the menu.

Stage 2 into Uraidla will be the first important day for the overall classification, with some serious climbing in the mix. The stage begins uphill straight away out of Norwood, with a 9-kilometer long ascent. In this race we don't often see big breakaways or aggressive starts, but if ever there was one, this is it.

The stage is hilly and then on two occasions the riders will climb the famous 'Corkscrew', a climb that can make big differences amongst the favourites, but also a rolling finale which provides further opportunities for attacks even outside the climbs.

The climb is 3.6 kilometers long at 6.7% "officially", but it is quite steeper than that, and feature very steep gradients where gaps can be created. The climb ends with 13 kilometers to go, but the riders continue to go uphill for a few more kilometers before a rolling finale into Uraidla.

The climbers will want to make the differences on the categorized climb as it will be the most difficult ascent of the race. We should see a small group emerge out of it, but if not, the final kilometers can become very tactical in terrain that is hard to chase on.

The strong southeastern wind could eventually play a role, but that doesn't seem to be the case here in Australia. On paper, a slight headwind after the final climb, but I don't think this will influence the race.

UAE - The team to beat, even if it is accurate to say that this is the start of the season and riders' form is not fully known. But Jay Vine has been in Australia for a long time and Jhonatan Narváez is both the defending champion and also from the southern hemisphere; so both have trained in the heat this winter and have shown clear intentions to win this race - whilst finding themselves in a good position after two stages. They don't have to attack, as they are first and third out of the GC men thus far in the race, and if Narváez survives the climb he will be a big danger for a sprint and specially for later in the race. Jay Vine can help control attacks, whilst having two men after the ascent also allows them to use their numbers. Adam Yates, by all means, could also be a card to play.

Jayco - Jayco are one of the teams who have to, and can realistically counter that. Luke Plapp is not an explosive rider and so he will have to use this terrain to try and make the difference, which is almost a certain if he does have the legs. But Jayco also has Mauro Schmid who had a tremendous prologue and should be saved; whilst Ben O'Connor, in form, could also be a dangerous figure in that rolling finale.

The likes of Santiago Buitrago, Javier Romo and Lennert van Eetvelt are men who can definitely be present in the smallest of groups if the climb is attacked hard, they can even do it themselves - and should if they have the legs, as it could then prevent them from being outnumbered. Whilst not a climber, Finn Fisher-Black is also a clear figure to look at, the climb won't likely be too much for him, and he is also looking very sharp.

On the climber side we will still have Nicolas Prodhomme, Callum Scotson, Guillaume Martin, Jefferon Alveiro Cepeda, Filippo Zana and Damien Howson present; whilst on the puncheur side there is Edoardo Zambanini, Harry Sweeny, Filippo Fiorelli, Andreas Kron, Simone Velasco and perhaps most dangerous of all Corbin Strong.

*** Jay Vine, Jhonatan Narváez
** Luke Plapp, Santiago Buitrago, Finn Fisher-Black, Javier Romo
* Adam Yates, Mauro Schmid, Ben O'Connor, Nicolas Prodhomme, Edoardo Zambanini, Lennert van Eetvelt, Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda, Corbin Strong, Andreas Kron, Simone Velasco

Pick: Finn Fisher-Black

How: Small groups sprint