Wouter Wippert returns to the Tour Down Under 12-months on from his final day stage win with his new Cannondale team looking for a repeat victory. The 25-year-old, who won nine races in the two seasons he spent with the Drapac Pro-Continental team, explained to Cyclingnews that starting the Australian WorldTour race was a factor in signing on the dotted line for Cannondale.
"One the requests when I signed with the team was can I please start with the team at Down Under again. I like training but I am pro cyclist because I like racing more so I am happy to start in Down Under and start the season early," Wippert told Cyclingnews.
"Compared to last year, the week before Tour Down Under I am three kilos lighter so it's going to be a bit easier I guess," he said by way of comparison to his approach to the race 12-months apart. "Training has gone really well the last couple of weeks so I think I am ready and everything should be a bit better than last year and hopefully the result as well."
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Wippert is looking to hit the ground running at the Tour Down Under, aiming for victory on stage one to match the efforts of fellow new recruit Paddy Bevin who won his first race in the green argyle. The Dutch fast man added that he isn't limiting himself to just one stage win, also eying off the finishes in Victor Harbour and Adelaide.
"The main goal is going to be stage one, four and six," he said. "In normal circumstances they will finish in a bunch sprint but you never know of course. It would be really good, not just for me but for the team as well to start well and get some rest for the remainder of the week. We are going to try our best the first day."
Four of Cannondale's seven starters make their racing debut with the team at the Tour Down Under. With the riders having the better part of a week to train together, Wippert believes that while it be will be plenty of time to iron out the creases, racing is a different beast to training.
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