Ben O'Connor will spearhead Jayco AlUla at the Tour Down Under as Australia's only top-level cycling team aim to end their title drought at the Adelaide race.
The WA star is the first confirmed rider for the Tour, with the women's event from January 17-19 and the men's stages from January 20-25.
O'Connor won the queen stage at this year's Tour de France and the Tour Down Under route will suit his climbing strengths.
Jayco AlUla manager Brent Copeland revealed last month that the team, which started in 2012, came close to folding because of financial problems.
They have made a point of fielding strong line-ups in January at the Australian road championships and the Tour Down Under.
But the last of their five overall men's Tour titles in Adelaide was South African Daryl Impey, who won the 2018 and '19 editions.
O'Connor last raced at the Tour Down Under in 2023, finishing sixth overall.
"Riding with Team Jayco AlUla there is a responsibility to perform there, so I want to be ready and switched on," O'Connor said.
“The last time I was here I was sixth and had bit of a bungle at the bottom of a climb and I never made the group that ended up winning that stage, so I’d love to be on the podium in Adelaide one year."
O'Connor started his professional career at the Tour Down Under eight years ago and is now one of Australia's top riders.
He has top-four overall finishes at the three Grand Tours - the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.
