Darryl Impey of Mitchelton Scott heads into next week's Tour Down Under as the defending champion. This year's tough course probably favors the climbers, but "it still comes down to who has the best legs in January," he says.

Former teammate Simon Gerrans, now retired after four consecutive victories, has a chance to become the first rider to win three in a row in Impey.

"I think my chances are as good as any of the other leading players, and it's about making certain stages important to win," Impey said in a team press release.

"It's more difficult because we have a target on our backs, but if we're in good enough shape, it comes down to who has the best legs in January.

The course gives Impey ample opportunity to challenge for a third title, but the summit finish at Paracombe on stage 3, the climbs that have returned to the race since 2017, and the finale on Willunga Hill (which Impey has run well enough the past two years to take the overall win has done enough in the past two years to win the overall) will not make things easy.

"It's nice to have Sterling [the stage 2 finish] back," said Impey. 'I've never won that stage, but I've come close in the past. It's probably one of my favorite stages." [Paracombe is tough and will test not only me, but also my competitors like me. I'm going to do everything I can to make up as much time as I can, and then we'll see what we have to do. I will prepare a little differently for that kind of effort. For me, that day will be a big point in deciding the overall winner."

"Overall, it's a climber's race, so it's going to be tough for guys like me. You need a stage win to be in contention for the win. Willunga on the last day is always special and I want to try for the overall win," said Impey.

Mitchelton-Scott sport director Matt White believes that this year's race will be the most difficult since the inaugural race in 1999. But not only Impey, but this year's team also includes 2018 Vuelta a España champion Simon Yates, who says he is ready to help Impey win a third title or take any chance he can.

"There has not been a more difficult course on the Tour Down Under in the last 22 years. There hasn't been a more difficult Tour Down Under course in the last 22 years," White said.

"There is no doubt that we will be racing with the strongest team against some of the world's top competitors coming to take the title, and I am confident that we will have the best team in the world to do so.

"This is the third time the organizers have hosted Paracombe, and with two hilltop finishes, it will certainly be the hardest event for the all-rounders. But the Tour Down Under is always won or lost by the second, with intermediate sprints and bonuses deciding the outcome. A small mistake in this race is always a big price to pay.

"I think stage 3 is the most important stage of this race. The climb isn't as long as Willunga, but it's definitely harder. If the pure climbers win Paracombe, it will be very hard to take them out of the overall win."

Mitchelton Scott competing in the 2020 Tour Down Under: Jack Bauer, Luke Durbridge, Lucas Hamilton, Michael Hepburn, Daryl Impey, Cameron Mayer, Simon Yates