Written by Mark of Mark Pro Team
  
  After the division three tours in Italy, Norway and Russia, the peloton heads down under for Australia’s Kangaroo Tour. The next edition of the most prestigious sprinting tour for division 3 starts this Saturday. With a strong field and a very interesting course. Who will take home this year’s Green Jersey?
  
  History
  
  The Kangaroo Tour had his first start in season 28. Australia is ready to organize this tour for the fifth time. Franz Amelung from Team JAN (This year’s division two classic winner in Grasse – Toulon) was the winner in the first two editions and he managed to take 4 stage wins as well. This makes him the record holder for most GC wins and most stage wins in Kangaroo Tour. The prologue winner of edition 3 and 4 Zlako Chaloupka from Hommerts Cycling Team is present in this year’s edition, will he be able to attack Franz’ record?
  
  The route
  
  Every year the Kangaroo Tour starts with a prologue (stage one) at the suburb of Gold Coast: Main Beach. From here it goes a long Australia’s finest beaches to the city centre. Very hot weather is expected and shadows are hard to find along the route, most riders will be happy this stage is only 7 km.
  
  The heat is not gone in stage two. From Toowoomba the route goes all the way down through dry and very hot landscape. The favourites will have to be in a good shape to persevere the heat. The strongest sprinters will battle for their first stage win in Brisbane.
  
  When the peloton survived the heat in stage one and two, they will have to battle another force of nature in stage three: wind. From the start at the surf capital Coffs Harbour to the ‘Koala Capital’ at Port Macquarie there will be wind. GC contenders have been warned!
  
  In contrast to the last three stages, will be more technical in stage four. Going from the industrial city Newcastle to the great Sydney, certainly the most famous city of Australia. The Great Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge – the peloton will pass all Sydney’s highlights before finishing in a district called ‘Kangaroo Point’ on the Kangaroo Street.
  
  The final stage, the king’s stage will be a decisive one. The start and finish are both situated in Sydney. The peloton will face many hills were traditionally the last climb, the Coronation Ave, 800 meters à 8%, will get rid of the pure sprinters. It’s here that we will know the next winner of the Kangaroo Tour. Who will win the big fluffy kangaroo along with the Green Jersey this year?
  
  Experienced Kangaroo Tour contenders
  
   Aleksander Skytte from squadra sora
  A 25 year old Danish sprinter. He was 1st in the GC and he got 3 podium spots in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 2 stage results in Giro di Sicilia and a 2nd place in this year’s Turnai – Turnai. The last won race is however from day 15 last season. Will he be able to defend his GC win?
  
   Elijah Rogasch from Avangarda
  A 25 year old English sprinter. He was 2nd in the GC and he got 3 podium spots (1 win included) in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 2 stage results in Norway Tour and a stage result in Giro di Montelbano. He was close to a victory last season, is this his year for a GC win?
  
   Tomas Swin from Hommerts Cycling Team
  A 28 year old Belgian sprinter. He was 3rd in the GC and got 3 podium spot (1 win included) in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 2 stage wins in Giro di Sicilia and podium spots in Rotterdam Classic, Baltimore Invitational and Orel-Kursk Classic. Although Tomas is one of the strongest riders in this tour, it is likely he is going to be a lead-out sprinter for Yrjänä Sistonen.
  
   Zlako Chaloupka from Hommerts Cycling Team
  A 28 year old Czech timetrialist and sprinter. He was 4th in the GC and won the last two prologues in Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 3 stage results in Norway Tour.
  
   Jan-Joost Batenburg from Holwerda Cycling
  A 26 year old Dutch sprinter. He was 10th in the GC and got a 3rd place in the fifth stage in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 2 stage wins in Giro di Sicilia and podium spots in Rotterdam Classic, Baltimore Invitational and Orel-Kursk Classic.
  
   Emmanuel Locklin from Grant Thornton
  A 24 year old Canadian timetrialist. He was 14th in the GC in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are the YC in Giro di Montelbano and a stage result in Norway Tour.
  
   Yrjänä Sistonen from Hommerts Cycling Team
  A 29 year old Finnish timetrialist and sprinter. He was 15th in the GC in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are 6 stage results (4

wins included) and the SC in this year’s Norway Tour and 8 stage results (4 wins included) in Cymru Taith, Haute-Normandie, Volta ao Porto, Race of the Minutemen and Giro di Montelbano.
  
   Douglas McKenzie from Grant Thornton
  A 29 year old American sprinter. He was 20th in the GC in last year’s Kangaroo Tour. Other results from him are the SC in Norway Tour and Race of the Minutemen and stage results in Giro di Montelbano and a stage result in Giro di Sicilia.
  
  Strong debutants
  
   Guillermo Posados from Abelixe
  A 25 year old Colombian sprinter and timetrialist. Although he might not be the best sprinter in the field, the combination of his good timetrial and decent sprint abilities could earn him a place in the top 9. On top of that he showed his good form this season in winning the SC in Race of the Minutemen and taking home two stage wins. Will he be able to continue his winning streak?
  
   Mathias Wennerlund from Auro team
  A 27 year old Belgian hill sprinter. He hasn’t won any race in the third division so far, but he has a strong hill team to support him and has the strength to win a stage. Especially the final stage is suited for his capabilities. We can expect an attack from him to get rid of the pure sprinters. He will be the man to beat in the king’s stage.
  
   Torgeir Brenna from Bing Team
  A 30 year old Norwegian sprinter. He managed to get a stage result in Norway Tour this season. Since he is not good in timetrialing, his manager could decide to use Torgeir as a lead-out sprinter for Morten Holen who is decent in timetrialing.
  
   Morten Holen from Bing Team
  A 30 year old Norwegian hill sprinter with decent timetrial abilities. Like Torgeir Brenna he managed to get a result in Norway Tour, but since he is the better timetrialist and good in the king’s stage, he might be his team captain and able to surprise in the GC.
  
   Lauro Hormandi from Borussia Milano
  A 25 year old Italian sprinter and timetrialist. He made a name for himself winning the YC and a stage in the last edition of Fast on Wheels. He was also close winning the SC there. His season so far isn’t what we had expected from him so far, with only one podium spot in China. A stage win and a good GC result in Australia could save his season, will he be able to do that?
  
   Balduin Lehmann from Cider Riders
  A 28 year old German all-rounder and timetrialist. Although he could do well on various terrains and he is a tough rider, he is not really a sprinter. Will his good timetrial abilities be good enough to compensate his lack in pure sprinting abilities?
  
   Marvin Waddington from Cycling Team FPS
  A 29 year old English timetrialist. He is in topform and with a good result in the prologue he might be able to finish in the top 9 of the GC.
  
   Matthijs Telkamp from Designa Legends PPDB
  A 27 year old Dutch sprinter. He is still without a result at his current team, but managed to win two stages in Norway Tour during his career. Will he be able to stand on the highest spot on the podium again?
  
   Kent Coosemans from Grant Thornton
  A 24 year old Belgian sprinter. He is still without a win this season, but was close to a win in two occasions. He is received training in the time trial center to perform well in tours. Although Emmanuel Locklin is the one with experience in Australia, Kent is a lot better in sprinting and likely will be the team captain.
  
   Nam-Jae Heo from Mark Pro Team
  A 28 year old South Korean sprinter. He has won the latest edition in Fast on Wheels (both GC and SC) and likes to expand his jersey collection in Australia. While he is still without a win this season, he was close to win three times and managed to get a second place in the SC in Perm Tour. Will he be the first Asian to win a stage or to secure a spot on the podium in this tour?
  
   Tiago Dornelas from Mark Pro Team
  A 25 year old Portuguese sprinter. He showed off he is more than a pure sprinter in the latest edition of Norway Tour, where he managed a second place in YC and a 7th place in the GC. He is also without a win like his teammate Nam-Jae

this season, will he be able to get a stage win in Australia?
  
   Boris Rokeloos from MrMediocre
  A 27 year old Belgian sprinter. He is in good form this season, with two win and 3 other results. His lack in timetrialing might not be enough to secure a top 9 in GC, but he surely is a contender for a stage win!
  
   Tony Lilja from NSCT
  A 30 year old Swedish cobble sprinter. He is without a result this season and the lack of cobbles in Australia and his weak timetrialing capabilities doesn’t help him in this tour, but everyone acknowledges Tony Lilja’s talent, he might surprise with a stage result.
  
   Victor Pardo from Onie
  A 33 year old Chilean sprinter. He is certainly one of the few riders with the largest palmares at the start of this tour: GC, SC, 3 stage wins and 1 stage result in Fast on Wheels, 4 results in former classic Vejle-København, 7 stage results and a 2nd and 3rd place in SC in Norway Tour, 2 stage results in Nederlandse Tour, 1 stage result in Giro di Montelbano and a stage win in Race of the Minutemen. Will he be able to extend his already big palmares?
  
   Nathan Mulder from Onie
  A 30 year old Dutch timetrialist. Although he is not a sprinter, he could surprise with a top 9 in GC with a good prologue, but likely has to help Victor in achieving the same thing.
  
   Martin Bugeja from Optimus Prime
  A 26 year old Spanish hill sprinter. Recently signed for Optimus Prime, he showed his talent almost winning Lappi Sea GP2. Despite his almost empty palmares, Cancellor puts all his trust in him as a captain. Will he be able to finally break through as a captain during Kangaroo Tour?
  
   Max Falco from Optimus Prime
  A 23 year old American hill sprinter. He is the man in good form this season with 2 wins and 4 other results and is determined to help Martin during the tour as he gets his own chance during stage five. Will he be able to get a good result in the YC and GC despite being a helper for his captain Bugeja?
  
   Roar Brun from Seeds2
  A 23 year old Norwegian sprinter. He is a very successful rider this season with 11 results (including 4 wins). He is a very talented rider and should be considered one of the favourites for the GC.
  
   Ludvig Nyhold from Sons of the Desert
  A 29 year old Danish sprinter. He is without a win during his career, but managed several podium spots in division three races. The expectations for him and his team are not high, but maybe he is able to surprise in the king’s stage.
  
   Hunter Samuels from squadra sora
  A 27 year old Scottish hill sprinter. He certainly has the most quality of all riders in this tour with his AV56. His palmares is rather small so far, with mainly stage results in in Fast on Wheels, including one win, that happened to be his only win in his career so far. He is without any result since season 30. It is very likely however that his manager, kilbane, is going to use him as a helper for Skytte to defend his Kangaroo Green Jersey. In case Skytte fails to deliver his promise, Scottish fans are hoping their star will get his chance to shine.
  
   Hafstein Sveinlaugursson from Team EksilFG
  A 23 year old Faroese sprinter. The young national champion is ready to extend his palmares after the SC win and two stage wins in Race of the Minutemen. He showed his good form and progression this season in winning the third stage in Giro di Montelbano. However he is not trained in timetrialing, this could ruin his chances for a good GC result. Will Hafstein take another division three stage win in Australia?
  
   Teodoro Corvalan from Team EksilFG
  A 31 year old Argentinian sprinter. While being three season without a result at his former team, his current manager, Frederik, picked him up to renew his career. He immediately delivered with 2 results this season, despite being used as lead-out sprinter for Caluwé or Sveinlaugursson during most of his races. The last time he could raise his arms in the air after a victory was in season 26. Will he get to chance to this again?
  
  GC favourites
  *** Brun, Sistonen, Skytte
  ** Rogasch, Hormandi, Coosemans, Chaloupka, Batenburg
  * Posados, Brenna, Heo, Pardo, Batenburg, Waddington, Telkamp
  
  YC favourites
  *** Brun
  ** Skytte, Rogasch, Hormandi
  * Coosemans, Posados, Dornelas, Sveinlaugursson, Falco