Andre Greipel, newly signed with Israel Startup Nation, is hoping to rediscover his former sprinting form, with the Schwalbe Classic Circuit Race in Adelaide, South Australia, on Sunday and next week's Tour, which starts on Tuesday He said he will find out what his form is like at the Schwalbe Classic Circuit Race in Adelaide, South Australia, on Sunday and at the Tour Down Under, which starts on Tuesday.

"I'll know how I'm doing during the race, hopefully," the 2008 and 2010 Tour Down Under winner said at a press event on Saturday.

"I've trained hard over the winter, so hopefully I'll be in good shape."

Australia will have up to five times to show him and his sprint rivals Caleb Yuan (Lotto-Soudal), Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step), and European road race champion Elia Viviani (Cofidis) what they can do. Despite offering the opportunity, the 37-year-old rather surprisingly suggested that he had "no goals" for next week.

"I want to enjoy the race and the bike, and I want to do well as a team," Greipel added.

That may sound a bit ambitious, but Greipel is realistic. He is using this race as a starting point to at least try to rediscover the form that won him races in the past during the season.

He has 156 wins to his credit, but only a stage win at La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in Africa in a disappointing season with Arkea Samsic.

"I have won many races. But I want to get back to where I was before."

"But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen," continued Greipel, who has a record of 18 stage wins in the Tour Down Under.

"At the end of the day, we can't change the world just by riding a bike. But I still really enjoy it and hope this season goes well."

Some might argue with the notion that sportsters have little impact on world affairs.

However, many Australian and international athletes in a variety of sports are raising awareness and lining their pockets for Australian bushfire relief efforts. The Tour Down Under will also be a fundraiser, with race sponsor Santos matching donations from the public. Teams participating in Sunday's Schwalbe Classic have pledged to donate all prize money to wildfire victims, and various riders have auctioned off autographed jerseys.

"I had seen the aftermath of the bushfires that hit parts of the Adelaide Hills in the media before I came here.

"But I saw it with my own eyes during training and saw the houses and nature that burned down ....... Many animals also died in the fire, and it's really sad.

Greipel was asked what he liked about his ninth race in Adelaide, "The weather, the atmosphere and the race ......." He simply replied, "The weather. The race here was a success and a good start to a successful season.

"I'm happy to be back.