Jack Hague will lead the Burleen Victorias in next week's Tour Down Under, racing in Australia for the first time since 2016.

The 30-year-old last raced in Australia at the 2016 Herald Sun Tour, the start of his first professional season with GreenEdge. Hague's Tour Down Under appearances came in 2014 and 2015 with the UniSA-Australia selection.

"It's great to have Jack on board. It's been a long time since he's competed in TDU and it's great to have him here to lead the team," said coach Neal Stephens in a statement from the team.

"He is very keen to do well in this race for the team! And being an Australian in Australia is an added bonus.

Although Hague was sure to finish third overall in the 2021 Vuelta a España, he has had bad luck in the past two Grand Tours seasons. The following year he crashed in the opening week of the Tour de France, and in the 2023 Giro d'Italia he crashed on stage 12, ending a failed attempt at the GC.

The following month he recovered to fifth overall at the Criterium du Dauphiné and rode aggressively in the Tour de France.

While Haig shined on the decisive stage to Willunga Hill on the final day, Phil Bauhaus led the line for Bahrain Victorious in the sprint early in the race. The German won the opening stage at Tanunda a year ago ahead of Caleb Yuan and Michael Matthews.

"Phil Bauhaus returns for the second year in a row. He's probably in even better shape than he was last time."

Adelaide native Cameron Scott will guide Bauhaus on the opening four stages, while Fran Miholiewicz, Johan Preiss Peitersen, Nicolo Blatty, and newcomer Torstein Train complete the seven-man lineup.

Traen, who has impressed on the week-long stages during his Uno X days, will play a key role in replacing Haig on the hilly course that will decide the overall at the Tour Down Under.

"Torstin will be there as a big support in the mountains," said Hagen. The last two stages are GC stages." The last two stages are GC stages.

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