The Jayco Alura team has chosen a strong lineup for the Tour Down Under.

The Australian team was forced to fight to avoid relegation from the men's World Tour in 2022 and lost the advantage of racing on home turf and gaining ranking points in 2021 and 2022 due to the global epidemic of COVID-19.

The Santos Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will return to the men's World Tour, while the women's Tour Down Under will become part of the World Tour for the first time.

Michael Matthews and Simon Yates will lead the men's team, while Alex Manley and Ruby Roseman-Gannon will be part of the women's team.

Matthews will head to Australia from his European base on Tuesday to join a number of his Australian teammates for the road national championships over the weekend. He will then travel from Ballarat to Adelaide for the Tour Down Under, which opens with a criterium on Saturday the 14th.

Matthews and Yates could join the overall contenders in the Tour Down Under, which will finish at Mount Lofty rather than Willunga Hill.

The Jayco Arla team for the Australian race includes Luke Durbridge, Lucas Hamilton, Chris Harper, Michael Hepburn (Santos Tour Down Under only), Kelland O'Brien ( Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race only), and Campbell Stewart are also there. Harper, Blake Quick, and Rudy Porter will be making their National Championship debuts for Jayco Aroura.

"I decided to go back to Australia this year and start the season there. It's been a long time since I've run in the Australian summer, so I'm really looking forward to it," Matthews said. [Not to mention it's an important race for us as an Australian team. [After years of TDU and Cadel Evans' Great Ocean Road Race failing to reach World Tour levels, we are very grateful to have the opportunity to race back to the highest level and in front of passionate local fans. [Many riders are eager to return to their home countries and show what they can do.

Manley, from Adelaide, is joined by Amber Pate, Alyssa Polites (Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race only), Georgia Baker (Santos Tour Down Under only), Georgie Howe, Jess Allen, and recently Australian riders, including Roseman-Gannon, who showed her 2023 form in the Bay Critz.

"I am very excited to be competing in this year's Santos Tour Down Under. Having competed in this event for a number of years and witnessed its growth, to be promoted to the UCI World Tour level in 2023 is really special," Manley said.

"As a team, we have won the overall title four times, and last year we were named the "Santos Festival of Cycling" as a national event, helping Ruby win the overall, a stage win, and the Georgia criterium.

"We know it will be a very high-level race and a very challenging course. Hopefully home advantage will help.

Cycling News will have a full rundown of Australia's summer races, including the Simone Giuliani road national championships in Ballarat this weekend. Tour Down Under with Steven Farrand brings you live coverage, race reports, news, exclusive interviews and analysis from Cycling News.

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