There will be 11 Australians on the starting line for the team time trial in Barcelona on Saturday, and will have a deep and highly competitive presence led with our only World Tour team, Jayco AlUla, including five Australians in their 8 man squad. 

There are six other Aussies spread throughout the other 22 teams in the race. 

Jayco Alula Leads the Australian Charge

Team Jayco AlUla, led by their GC contender Ben O’Connor who the team will be hoping for a top 10 result with a podium Hail Mary. Michael Matthews has amazingly recovered from two broken wrists in a horror training crash in March. Michael will be stage hunting for sure and will also be a chance for stint in the Maillot Jaune early on. Luke Plapp is in good form and also a big chance for stage success especially in the last half of the Tour.

Kel OBrien riding his debut Tour and Luke Durbridge riding his final season, will both be crucial in the team time trial. Over the years the Aussie squad have excelled in this format and they look to be heading back to that form.

Jai Hindley Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe; A former winner of the Giro, is the other Aussie who is a realistic chance for high GC finish. His impressive third overall at the Giro in May showed that he is back to top form and although he will be very busy looking after team leaders Evenepoel and Lipowitz in the high mountains there is always the possibility he will have the opportunity to unleash his climbing talent

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It’s great to see Sebastian Berwick making his TDF debut, representing Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. A talented climber, he secured his place on the team this season by finishing sixth overall at the Tour of Oman, seventh at Milano-Torino, and then winning the overall title at the Tour of Turkey, in addition to placing fifth overall at the recent Tour of Slovenia.

Michael Storer will lead Tudor Pro Cycling’s GC ambitions and he is in great form. His 7th overall at the Giro was full of class and again he will be a part of the Western Australian Dingo pack with O’Connor and Hindley set to repeat their exciting GC assault.

Robert Stannard — Bahrain Victorious, is a breakaway specialist but will be busy looking after team leaders Antonio Tiberi and Phil Bauhaus.  

Chris Harper and Damien Howson are both growing to be crucial climbing support for Pinarello Q36.5 leader Tom Pidcock. Damo is back for his third Tour and Chris is back to his brilliant best. Troubled by challenging back and leg issues over the past 18 months, he looked much better at the Giro but has since found some great form. just last week he produced a masterclass in the Andorra MoraBanc Classica to deliver a victory to team leader Tom Pidcock. And that will be his primary job on this Tour. But, given half a chance, he is definitely capable of a top 10 finish. 

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