"The race has been designed to be captivating and exciting, so I think that's what we'll get" - Tour Down Under organizer Stuart O'Grady foresees

Stuart O'Grady, the first Australian Paris-Roubaix winner, and now the organizer of the Santos Tour Down Under. O'Grady had won the race twice in the past and for his executive role debut, he has prepared a fascinating final at the weekend, combining famous Willunga Hill on Saturday, with Mount Lofty in the final stage.

"Riders and teams are expecting heat and dryness," says O’Grady during the pre-race press conference. "The guys who train in Australia will have a little advantage on that, but last year we clearly saw, with Simon Yates, that the Europeans could shine. In any case, it's an honor and a pleasure to see all these superstars of our sport come to Adelaide."

"Of course, we negotiate to have the best riders at the start, but we know that it's a very special year, with the Paris Olympic Games," he continues. "I'm very happy with the route we've put together, with new start and finish towns, and obviously there are stages at Willunga Hill and Mount Lofty on the weekend. The race has been designed to be captivating and exciting, so I think that's what we'll get."