For the four days of racing at the Santos Festival of Cycling, Richie Porte is convinced that returning to Australia was the best choice: traveling from Europe, where a two-week quarantine is mandatory, was not easy, but after enjoying the Australian summer, the 2021 season can get off to an early start.

The two-time Tour Down Under winner, who now leads Team Garmin Australia in this event, will face a national team in the National Road Series after a World Tour event was cancelled due to a coronavirus pandemic.

"This race was special and very important for me. This race was special and very important for me. I had to go through a two-week quarantine to get back to Australia. Going back to Australia was the best decision I could have made. I think I will be able to race four days earlier than everyone else in Europe. It really makes sense

The Santos Festival of Cycling will be held from Thursday, January 21 to Sunday, January 24. Both women and men will ride through the towns and countryside around Adelaide, tackling the popular Willunga Hill climb on stage 3 and finishing at a criterium outside the city.

WorldTour professionals returning to Australia this summer, as well as the Australian-based Team Bike Exchange, will compete in both the men's and women's races. The majority of the field will be made up of domestic athletes. 9]

"All of (the other) Aussies are training in a consistent Australian environment, so no matter how talented Riche is, it's a world title for them," Santos Tour Down Under Race

"And they're all training in a consistent Australian environment, so no matter how talented Riche is, it's a world title for them.

"And for Ritchey, it's a 'welcome back' and we hope he gets the accolades he deserves and hopefully the results he deserves."