"We are looking to win every single stage and the GC" - Luke Plapp believes Team Jayco AlUla is able to dominate Tour Down Under

Team Jayco AlUla are the World Tour home team at the Tour Down Under and they seek success. Luke Plapp is teaming up with Simon Yates and Caleb Ewan to pursue stage wins every single day, besides the famous ochre jersey.

“Yates is here for a reason, he got second last year and this course even suits him better, having Willunga, so I’d love to play a part in helping him succeed and win the race and then see how I can fare in that as well," Plapp told Cyclingnews ahead of the race. "I’d love to be up there too, but at the end of the day we are here to win, so as long one of us is wearing the ochre jersey at the end of the week that would be the goal.”

Plapp will be, together with Chris Harper, a second leader and alternative to last year's runner-up Simon Yates. The Briton is an excellent climber, who battled with Jay Vine last year. Looking to replicate a strong season, the Briton returns, whilst Plapp won both road race and time-trial events at the Australian national championships. Although he was recently ill, Caleb Ewan won the criterium nationals last week and will be headlining the sprinter field.

"I think to be honest, we are looking to win every single stage and the GC," Plapp admits, in what is on paper not an unrealistic ambition to have. "I think that’s a good team target and I really feel confident that we’ve got a great group of riders here.”