On Monday, this year's Tour Down Under winners gathered at the Hilton Hotel in central Adelaide for a pre-race press conference. Mitchelton-Scott's Daryl Impey and Simon Yates revealed their determination to win again against time trial world champions Rohan Dennis (Team Ineos) and Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo).

This year's World Tour season opener is said to be one of the toughest in history, as the tough uphill finish of stage 3 in Paracombe on Thursday and the finale of stage 6 on Willunga Hill on Sunday are the two stages that will most likely determine the overall standings this year

Porte de Villeret

Porte, Dennis, and Impey have won four of the last five editions, with the latter looking for a third straight win in 2020.

"Without a doubt, it's one of my favorite races on the calendar and an important one for the team," said defending champion Impey.

"This year we have new riders in the race with new ambitions.

"With Paracombe back in the race, things will change. We want to accomplish a hat trick and we are ready for it and have prepared well.

"I think I stepped up again last year and improved, especially in Wilunga. But even so, there are new challenges, and that's what makes this race exciting."

Mitchelton-Scott's teammate Simon Yates, who is racing in Australia for the first time, appears ready to take on the role of leader if this year's course proves to be a tough one for the Imps.

"I'm excited to start racing," said the British climber, who won the Vuelta a España in 2018 and is aiming for the Giro d'Italia in 2020.

"I think I have a team here with me and 'Imps' that can really take on the race. Training is going well, but it's always different with racing, you never know until you race."

2017 winner Richie Porte, who has finished runner-up to Impey the past two years, will be giving his all in this year's race for his second overall win.

"My biggest challenger could be any of the riders sitting here, but there's also George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) and countless others.

Asked if he would like to make it seven wins in a row at Willunga Hill, Porte surprisingly replied, "I would."

"But it's easier said than done. But easier said than done," he added."

"Of course I'm going to do my best, but I think everybody here is trying to do the same thing," he said, "and I think that's what I'm trying to do. Of course I'm going to do my best, but I think everyone here is trying to do the same thing."

"I've been training well and I have a super team.

One of Porte's seven Trek-Segafredo team members is road racing world champion Mads Pedersen, who is also a member of the team.

"I'm here for the next week to help Richie," the 24-year-old Danish rider said.

Rohan Dennis said he believed he was a different type of rider when he won the 2015 event and said he is looking forward to racing and getting along with his new Team Ineos teammates this year.

"I came here in 2015 with a lot of track work to prepare for the Hour Record," he explained, and less than a month after winning his home race, he set a then new record of 52.491 km in Grenchen, Switzerland.

"That year we were able to beat Richie because of that.

"This year you get to see how a team works in a race situation. That's something we have to get used to for this race and for the future.

"We want to race in the mid-20s or low 30s; anything over 35 degrees, over 40 degrees is not good for anyone. It affects the race. But I think the weather coming up is perfect for racing."

Race director Mike Trull, who will pass the baton to former pro rider Stuart O'Grady for the 2021 race after 22 years at the helm, has often questioned the wisdom of holding a stage race during what is usually the hottest part of the South Australian summer.

"The race has been a great success.

"I think we will have the coolest race ever," Turtur said in response to a question about climate change. But the race is held in January because it is the holiday season and it is a tourist event."

"We have a lot of new teams, new contracts. [You see new teams, new contracts, new bikes, new jerseys, etc. We have to deal with the heat and the weather as best we can.

Asked about the bushfires in parts of South Australia that are part of this year's route and that continue to burn in other parts of the country, Turtur was adamant that the race will bring positives to what is a difficult time of year for many people.

"As we go into the Adelaide Hills, it will be important to support the towns and communities in the Hills by bringing people back to the affected areas," Turtle said. [The prize list from last night's Schwalbe Classic was also donated. So I think the race as a whole is doing what it can to help the affected areas, and we'll do our best to put on a good show and bring a lot of people into the affected areas."

"Looking at the overall winners, I think there are about 10 people who have a chance to win.

The 2020 Tour Down Under will start on Tuesday with a 150km circular stage around Tanunda.

Cycling News will have live coverage of all stages with news, reports, photo galleries, interviews and news from local reporters in Adelaide.

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