January 9th, 2020
Telefónica-backed squad opens its calendar in Australia once again, with seven days of racing that include the traditional, decisive hilltop finish of Willunga
The Movistar Team will be starting on Thursday its first journey of a long 2020 season. An expedition led by sports director José Luis Arrieta will be flying to South Australia this weekend to compete at the 22nd Tour Down Under. The inaugural round of the UCI WorldTour, a six-day event from Tuesday 21st to Sunday 26th January, will be prefaced by the Schwalbe Classic criterim in Adelaide, on Sunday 19th.
Samitier
Juri Hollmann (GER), Gabriel Cullaigh (GBR) and Sergio Samitier (ESP) will be making their first outings in the Blue jersey at the TDU, as part of a seven-man lineup completed by Jürgen Roelandts (BEL), Edu Prades, Lluís Mas and Jorge Arcas (ESP).
The Aussie race, which the Abarca Sports organisation will take part in for a 13th consecutive time -with four stage wins and two runner-up GC finishes in its palmarès-, will feature up to three uphill finishes: the one at Stirling (Wed 22nd), for punchy climbers and fast finishers, and the ascents of Paracombe (Thu 23rd) and Willunga Hill (Sun 26th), for the overall race contenders.
British sprinter Gabriel Cullaigh will be one of three new Blue riders making his debut in Australia.
